I don’t know why, but I had always sort of assumed that the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server was a mostly pro forma exercise in appearing to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. Really, just something to give the appearance that an investigation was occurring. It would appear that I was very wrong.

According to The Hill, there have been at least 147 FBI agents thus far who have been involved in the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private server.

A new report says 147 FBI agents are involved in the investigation surrounding Hillary Clinton‘s private email server and handling of classified material.

The Washington Post reports that the large number of agents have been deployed to run down leads in the investigation, citing a lawmaker briefed by FBI Director James Comey.

The Post reported that the FBI has accelerated its investigation as officials want to avoid potentially announcing any action close to the November election.

Comey has signaled that he is personally close to the probe into Clinton’s personal email account used during her time as secretary of State that was revealed last year.

“What I can assure you is that I am very close personally to that investigation to ensure that we have the resources we need, including people and technology, and that it’s done the way the FBI tries to do all of it’s work: independently, competently and promptly,” Comey told lawmakers in early March.

Admittedly, this is a different kind of investigation with different levels of political considerations, but in my experience doing criminal defense work as an attorney, when even half this many FBI agents get involved in an investigation, the end result is that several people are going to get charged with something.

It’s still pretty impossible to predict what will happen to Clinton because of the political considerations aforementioned, but it’s looking increasingly likely that SOMEONE is getting criminally charged over this. The fact that FBI is hurrying its investigation as much as possible so that the results don’t drop in November is an ominous sign for Team Clinton, indeed.