Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton finally opted for a course correction on the protracted emails controversy by saying she is “sorry” over her use of a private server as Secretary of State.
Clinton made the U-turn on Tuesday — just 24 hours after declaring that she did not feel the need to apologise on the issue since the use of private email system was allowed by the State Department.
“I’m sorry about that,” Clinton told ABC News, acknowledging that she should have used separate accounts for work and personal business. “I take responsibility and I am trying to be as transparent as I possibly can.” She also posted her apology on Facebook, saying, “I wanted you to hear this directly from me: Yes, I should have used two email addresses, one for personal matters and one for my work at the State Department. Not doing so was a mistake. I’m sorry about it, and I take full responsibility.”
The decision to what was being interpreted as an unqualified apology came in the wake of falling poll numbers and an apparent realisation that this “distraction” could end up hurting her campaign even more significantly.
“I know this is a complex story. I could have — and should have — done a better job answering questions earlier. I’m grateful for your support, and I’m not taking anything for granted,” she noted in her Facebook posting.
She, however, maintained in her ABC interview that everyone she emailed in the White House and Obama administration knew she used a private account. She also disputed that she ever traded information over email that was marked classified at the time.
Coming as it did amid continuing speculation that Vice-President Joe Biden may still enter the presidential race, Clinton was pointedly questioned on the subject.
Choosing her words carefully, Clinton replied, “I like Joe Biden a lot, and I think he is a great Vice-President. I think he could be a good president. There’s no doubt about that.”
“He’s testing the waters. He deserves to test the waters... If he gets into this election, there’ll be lots of time to talk about what he wants to do,” she added, declining to speculate on the chances of a potential rivalry between the two of them.