Donald Trump

Clinton Blames Misogyny, FBI, Russia, Herself for 2016 Loss

The former secretary of state also took time to address President Donald Trump's tweeting habits when it comes to foreign relations

Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that she's taking responsibility for her 2016 election loss but believes misogyny, Russian interference and questionable decisions by the FBI influenced the outcome.

The former Democratic presidential nominee offered extensive comments about the election during the Women for Women International's annual luncheon in New York. She said she's been going through the "painful" process of reliving the 2016 contest while writing a book.

"It wasn't a perfect campaign. There is no such thing," Clinton said in a question-and-answer-session with CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "But I was on the way to winning until a combination of (FBI Director) Jim Comey's letter on Oct. 28 and Russian WikiLeaks raised doubts in the minds of people who were inclined to vote for me but got scared off."

She reminded the enthusiastic audience packed with women that she earned 3 million more votes than Republican Donald Trump, who won more Electoral College votes and won the election.

"If the election were on October 27, I would be your president," Clinton said.

She also highlighted Russia's role in hacking into her campaign's internal emails and subsequently coordinating their release on WikiLeaks. U.S. intelligence agencies are investigating whether Russia coordinated with Trump associates to influence the election, something Russia has denied.

"He (Russian President Vladimir Putin) certainly interfered in our election," Clinton said. "And it's clear he interfered to hurt me and help my opponent."

Amanpour also asked Clinton whether she was a victim of misogyny.

"Yes, I do think it played a role," she said, adding that misogyny is "very much a part of the landscape politically, socially and economically."

After two unsuccessful presidential campaigns, Clinton is not expected to run for public office again.

"I'm now back to being an activist citizen and part of the resistance," she said.

According to NBC News, the former secretary of state also took time during the event to address Trump's tweeting habits when it comes to foreign relations, stressing that North Korea is one of the world's "wicked problems" that the president has to address head-on.

"Negotiations are critical," Clinton said of the efforts to achieve peace with the nuclear-armed nation. "But they have to be part of a broader strategy, not just thrown off on a tweet some morning that, 'Hey, let's get together, you know, see if we can't get along and maybe we can, you know, come up with some sort of idea.' That doesn't work."

Later in the day, Clinton accepted an award from Planned Parenthood, saying there's still much to do to advance the rights and opportunities of women and girls.

Clinton told a crowd of more than 1,000 Tuesday night at a New York fundraiser marking the 100th anniversary of the organization that such work is "the great unfinished business of the 21st century." She added that on some days, it seems even more unfinished that we'd hoped.

During her speech, Clinton called for expanded access to preventive services at Planned Parenthood, and for increased access and affordability of family planning, including long-acting reversible contraception.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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