Sounds like Comey’s own staff knew not to give him this info too early. They might have to resign or be fired, but it was probably the right call.
That’s what I got from it. They held it back until just the right time and then took it to him with an ultimatum. Fits in with the revelations that they were all disgusted with his previous decision to not indict. They had to leave him no way out this time.
Or perhaps his staff was trying to hold it until after the election but NYPD said, "Release it or WE will."
This is the problem when we have an opaque government. We NEVER know what is truth.