Bill Clinton didn't think Hillary Clinton should have apologized for her private email server
It's probably not a shock that Hillary Clinton didn't want to apologize for her private email server — although she finally did on Tuesday — but it might be a little curious to hear that her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was staunchly against the idea of her apologizing, too.
The Clintons apparently both agreed that an apology would legitimize the controversy surrounding Hillary Clinton's use of a private email address and server while she was serving as secretary of state (Clinton, for her part, has said that her actions were fully within the law). The New York Times reports that while at first her staffers agreed an apology wasn't necessary, the increasing rumblings of disapproval eventually made the lack of an apology look bad. But Bill apparently disagreed:
Frustrations came to a head during Mrs. Clinton's late August vacation in the Hamptons, where she and former President Bill Clinton took walks on the beach, socialized, and raised money for her campaign.Mr. Clinton was adamant that his wife, who is not accused of breaking any laws or rules, had nothing to apologize for, according to people he spoke to. But he also repeatedly urged her aides to try harder to explain Mrs. Clinton's actions to voters in a way that would persuade them she had done nothing wrong.A number of her friends, meanwhile, separately suggested to Mrs. Clinton during the vacation that she needed to change her approach. [The New York Times]
It seems that at the end of the day, her friends won out over the former president.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
How are these Epstein files so damaging to Trump?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As Republicans and Democrats release dueling tranches of Epstein-related documents, the White House finds itself caught in a mess partially of its own making
-
Margaret Atwood’s memoir, intergenerational trauma and the fight to make spousal rape a crime: Welcome to November booksThe Week Recommends This month's new releases include ‘Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts’ by Margaret Atwood, ‘Cursed Daughters’ by Oyinkan Braithwaite and 'Without Consent' by Sarah Weinman
-
‘Tariffs are making daily life less affordable now’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump DOJ sues to block California redistrictingSpeed Read California’s new congressional map was drawn by Democrats to flip Republican-held House seats
-
GOP retreats from shutdown deal payout provisionSpeed Read Senators are distancing themselves from a controversial provision in the new government funding package
-
Catholic bishops rebuke Trump on immigrationSpeed Read ‘We feel compelled’ to ‘raise our voices in defense of God-given human dignity,’ the bishops said
-
House releases Epstein emails referencing TrumpSpeed Read The emails suggest Trump knew more about Epstein’s sex trafficking of underage women than he has claimed
-
Newsom slams Trump’s climate denial at COP30speed read Trump, who has called climate change a ‘hoax,’ declined to send any officials to this week’s summit
-
UK, Colombia halt intel to US over boat attacksSpeed Read Both countries have suspended intelligence sharing with the US over the bombing of civilian boats suspected of drug smuggling
-
Trump pardons 2020 fake electors, other GOP alliesSpeed Read The president pardoned Rudy Giuliani and more who tried to overturn his 2020 election loss
-
Supreme Court to decide on mail-in ballot limitsSpeed Read The court will determine whether states can count mail-in ballots received after Election Day
