FBI Director James Comey says he feels "mildly nauseous" his announcement about re-opening an investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails could have affected the US election result, but he stands by his decision.
In a Senate judiciary committee hearing on Wednesday, Mr Comey also said he believed Russia was still meddling in American politics.
Harry Horton reports from Washington.
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Almost six months after one of the most divisive elections in US history, the post mortum continues.
On Tuesday Hillary Clinton suggested that FBI Director James Comey's October announcement he was re-opening an investigation into her private email server played a decisive role in the outcome of the election.
On Wednesday, Director Comey offered a passionate defence of his actions. He said when FBI investigators told him they'd found thousands of previously unseen emails sent by Hillary Clinton, he found himself stuck between a rock and a hard place..
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James Comey said he didn't consider the political consequences of his actions - because in his view, that isn't part of his job.
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Mr Comey was also challenged by Republican Senator Lindsay Graham about the topic that has obsessed Washington since Donald Trump's inauguration. What role Russia played in his election victory...
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Next week Sally Yates, the former acting attorney general, is to testify to a senate committee on what she told the White House about Mike Flynn - the former national security advisor who was fired for lying about his conversations with the Russian ambassador.
Democrats are hoping for some explosive revelations.
Harry Horton, Washington