Hillary Clinton says 'there are no excuses' for her State Department private emails

Hillary Clinton discusses emails, Trump, with CNN host Anderson Cooper

(Image credit: CNN/YouTube)

published 25 August 2016

In a wide-ranging interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday night, Hillary Clinton discussed the allegations surrounding the Clinton Foundation and its donors, Donald Trump's shifting immigration position, and his calling her "a bigot," but Cooper also got Clinton to talk about her use of a private email server while secretary of state, and whether or not Colin Powell advised her to use a private email account — as she allegedly told the FBI and Powell sort of disavowed.

"Well, look, I have the utmost respect for Secretary Powell," Clinton said, adding that she appreciates all the advice he gave her as she prepared to become secretary of state, but "I'm not going to relitigate in public my private conversations with him." She continued:

I've been asked many, many questions in the past year about emails, and what I've learned is that when I try to explain what happened, it can sound like I'm trying to excuse what I did, and there are no excuses. I want people to know that the decision to have a single email account was mine, I take responsibility for it, I've apologized for it, I would certainly do differently if I could, but obviously I'm grateful the Justice Department concluded there's no basis to pursue this matter further, and I believe the public will be and is considering my full record and experience as they consider their choice for president. [Hillary Clinton on CNN]

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Cooper ended the interview asking Clinton why she hasn't held a press conference in more than 260 days, and if, as some advisers say, she's trying to "run out the clock" on Trump. "Will you give a press conference?" he asked. "Well, Anderson, I'm talking to you right now, and I've given, I think, way in excess of 300 interviews this year, so I'm going to continue talking with the press and answering questions," Clinton said. "Why not give a press conference, though, with a lot of different reporters?" he asked. Clinton said, "Stay tuned."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.