Email Controversy
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Statements about classified information: During her time as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton used a private email server for official communications.1 She initially stated that she "never received nor sent any material that was marked classified" at the time.2 An FBI investigation later found that while none of the emails had classified headers, 110 of them contained information that was classified at the time they were sent or received. The FBI concluded that while there was no evidence of intentional wrongdoing, her use of the server was "extremely careless."3
Deletion of emails: Clinton stated that she had deleted only personal emails from the server. However, the FBI found several thousand work-related emails that were not among the 30,000 she turned over to the State Department.4 The FBI concluded there was no evidence of intentional deletion to conceal information, and that her lawyers, who sorted the emails, may have missed some.
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Benghazi Attack
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Initial explanation of the attack: Following the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, Clinton and other administration officials initially cited an anti-Islam video as the cause of the protest that led to the attack. This was later shown to be incorrect, as officials knew early on that the attack was a planned terrorist assault. Critics have accused Clinton of intentionally misleading the public, while her supporters argue she was relying on the intelligence available at the time, which was evolving.
Other Allegations and Controversies
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Bosnia trip "under sniper fire": In 2008, as a presidential candidate, Clinton stated that a 1996 trip she made to Bosnia as First Lady involved "landing under sniper fire."5 This was quickly disproven by news footage and journalists who were on the trip, showing her greeting people on the tarmac with no visible danger. Clinton later admitted she "misspoke."
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Whitewater Controversy: The Whitewater real estate deal, involving the Clintons and their associates in the 1970s and 80s, was the subject of a prolonged investigation during her husband's presidency.6 While the Clintons were never charged with any wrongdoing, some of their business partners were convicted of fraud.7 Critics have raised questions about statements she made regarding her role in the deal and her legal work related to it.
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White House Travel Office firings: During the early days of Bill Clinton's presidency, all seven employees of the White House Travel Office were fired.8 Hillary Clinton initially denied any involvement, but an investigation later concluded that she had a role in the decision.
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Here are some more prominent instances where Hillary Clinton's statements have been fact-checked and challenged.
Benghazi Attack (continued)
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Security requests: During congressional hearings on the Benghazi attack, Clinton was questioned about her knowledge of requests for increased security at the diplomatic compound prior to the attack. Critics pointed to an independent review that faulted State Department officials for poor communication and for not providing adequate security.1 Clinton and her supporters have maintained that she was not personally aware of all specific security requests.
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Sidney Blumenthal emails: A key point of contention was her relationship with political confidant Sidney Blumenthal, who was not a government employee but sent her numerous memos about Libya.2 Clinton initially claimed his advice was "unsolicited," but released emails showed she had encouraged him to "keep them coming."3
Trade Deals
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Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): As Secretary of State, Clinton was a strong advocate for the TPP, a major trade agreement.4 She famously called it "the gold standard" of trade deals.5 However, during her 2016 presidential campaign, she came out against it, stating that it did not meet her criteria for a good deal. This reversal was widely criticized as a political "flip-flop" aimed at appealing to voters concerned about job losses.
Whitewater and Other Past Controversies
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Missing billing records: During the Whitewater investigation, a set of billing records from her time at the Rose Law Firm, which were subpoenaed by investigators, were unaccounted for. They later mysteriously reappeared in the White House in 1996.6 The delay in their discovery and production led to further questions about her role in the Whitewater real estate deal and her legal work for the company involved.
Relationship with Rose Law Firm and Madison Guaranty: Hillary Clinton's work as an attorney at the Rose Law Firm for Madison Guaranty Savings & Loan, the failed institution at the center of the scandal, was a source of intense scrutiny.7 While she was not charged, her statements about the nature and extent of her legal work for the company were often seen as evasive or incomplete.
Other Notable Claims
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Bosnia trip "under sniper fire": As mentioned previously, her 2008 claim about landing "under sniper fire" in Bosnia was a widely cited example of exaggeration.8 Video footage of her landing showed a calm arrival, and she later admitted she "misspoke," saying she had been told there was a threat of fire but did not experience it directly.9
"Deplorables" comment: During the 2016 campaign, Clinton stated that half of Donald Trump's supporters belonged in a "basket of deplorables." She later expressed regret for the statement, specifically the "half" part, and the comment became a rallying cry for her opponents.
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