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Hillary Clinton blames James Comey letters for election defeat, report says Hillary Clinton blames James Comey letters for election defeat, reports say
(35 minutes later)
Hillary Clinton has reportedly blamed two letters to Congress by FBI director James Comey for her defeat by Donald Trump in the US presidential election.Hillary Clinton has reportedly blamed two letters to Congress by FBI director James Comey for her defeat by Donald Trump in the US presidential election.
The website Politico reported that Clinton made the comments on Saturday, in a call with donors who gave more than $100,000 to her campaign. Clinton’s presidential run ended with a narrow victory in the popular vote but defeat, by 290 votes to 228 with Michigan and New Hampshire yet to declare, in the electoral college. Politico was first to report that Clinton made the comments on Saturday, in a call with donors who gave more than $100,000 to her campaign. Clinton’s presidential run ended with a narrow victory in the popular vote but defeat, by 290 votes to 228 with Michigan and New Hampshire yet to declare, in the electoral college that decides the presidency. Reuters later reported same remarks.
The comments, which were similar to previously reported remarks by other campaign sources, contrasted with anger from Javier Palomarez, president and chief executive of the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC). He told the Guardian on Saturday it was Clinton’s neglect of Latino voters that handed the presidency to Trump.The comments, which were similar to previously reported remarks by other campaign sources, contrasted with anger from Javier Palomarez, president and chief executive of the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC). He told the Guardian on Saturday it was Clinton’s neglect of Latino voters that handed the presidency to Trump.
Comey made headlines on 28 October with his first letter, 11 days before the vote. In the letter he told members of Congress, all Republicans, that new emails had been discovered that could be relevant to a closed investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of state. Comey made headlines on 28 October with his first letter, 11 days before the vote. In the letter he told members of Congress, all Republicans, that new emails had been discovered that could be relevant to a completed investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of state.
The original investigation had ended in July with no charge against Clinton, who Comey nonetheless said had been “extremely careless”. The original investigation had ended in July with no charge against Clinton, who Comey said her conduct was “extremely careless” but not criminal or intentional wrongdoing.
The new emails were discovered, it was reported, on a device belonging to Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of Clinton aide Huma Abedin, who was being investigated for allegedly exchanging lewd messages with an underage woman. The new emails were discovered, it was reported, on a device belonging to Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of Clinton aide Huma Abedin, during an investigation into him for for allegedly exchanging lewd messages with a minor.
A furious reaction from both sides of the partisan divide saw senior Democrats pressuring the FBI director, who they said had departed from justice department policy and may have violated the Hatch Act, a federal statute that bars political activity by senior officials. Republicans responded with bafflement at Comey’s break with policy and decades of precedent, and furioussenior Democrats suggested the FBI director may have violated the Hatch Act, a federal statute that bars political activity by senior officials.
Comey’s second letter was sent last Sunday, two days before the election. In it, he said that a review of the newly discovered emails had been completed and no evidence found to merit reopening the investigation of Clinton. Comey’s second letter was sent last Sunday, two days before the election. In it, he said that a review of the newly discovered emails had been completed, and that it found no evidence to merit reopening the investigation of Clinton.
Republicans including Trump responded angrily, alleging that the review could not have been completed correctly in so short a time. Reports said 650,000 emails were in question, although that number was not officially confirmed. Republicans, including Trump, responded angrily, alleging that the review could not have been completed correctly in so short a time. Reports said 650,000 emails were in question, although that number was not officially confirmed.
An individual who was on the donors’ call, Politico reported, claimed Clinton said the first letter prompted a fall in favourable polling but there was a rebound before the second letter “awakened Donald Trump’s voters”.An individual who was on the donors’ call, Politico reported, claimed Clinton said the first letter prompted a fall in favourable polling but there was a rebound before the second letter “awakened Donald Trump’s voters”.
The reported remarks mirrored comments, previously reported by Politico, in an email from Navin Nayak, Clinton’s head of opinion research.The reported remarks mirrored comments, previously reported by Politico, in an email from Navin Nayak, Clinton’s head of opinion research.
“We believe that we lost this election in the last week,” the website reported Nayak as writing on Thursday. “Comey’s letter in the last 11 days of the election both helped depress our turnout and also drove away some of our critical support among college-educated white voters – particularly in the suburbs. “We believe that we lost this election in the last week,” the magazine reported Nayak as writing on Thursday. “Comey’s letter in the last 11 days of the election both helped depress our turnout and also drove away some of our critical support among college-educated white voters – particularly in the suburbs.
“We also think Comey’s [second] letter, which was intended to absolve [Secretary] Clinton, actually helped to bolster Trump’s turnout.”“We also think Comey’s [second] letter, which was intended to absolve [Secretary] Clinton, actually helped to bolster Trump’s turnout.”
Clinton did not speak on election night, instead delivering a concession speech at a hotel in New York on Wednesday. In excerpts from an interview to be broadcast by CBS on Sunday, Trump discussed the call he took from his Democratic opponent in the small hours of that morning.Clinton did not speak on election night, instead delivering a concession speech at a hotel in New York on Wednesday. In excerpts from an interview to be broadcast by CBS on Sunday, Trump discussed the call he took from his Democratic opponent in the small hours of that morning.
“So Hillary called and it was a lovely call,” he said, adding: “She couldn’t have been nicer. She just said, ‘Congratulations, Donald, well done.’ And I said, ‘I want to thank you very much, you were a great competitor.’”“So Hillary called and it was a lovely call,” he said, adding: “She couldn’t have been nicer. She just said, ‘Congratulations, Donald, well done.’ And I said, ‘I want to thank you very much, you were a great competitor.’”
Politico’s source said Clinton seemed “sad but hopeful” on the donors call, as she discussed the importance to Democrats of political engagement in future.Politico’s source said Clinton seemed “sad but hopeful” on the donors call, as she discussed the importance to Democrats of political engagement in future.
Palomarez, head of an organisation which represents 4.2m Hispanic-owned businesses, blamed Clinton’s failure on a lack of engagement from the campaign.Palomarez, head of an organisation which represents 4.2m Hispanic-owned businesses, blamed Clinton’s failure on a lack of engagement from the campaign.
He told the Guardian: “We thought this election cycle would be different. Unfortunately, Hillary Clinton was advised once again by Beltway advisers who knew it all, had the models and the projections, but who called it wrong.”He told the Guardian: “We thought this election cycle would be different. Unfortunately, Hillary Clinton was advised once again by Beltway advisers who knew it all, had the models and the projections, but who called it wrong.”