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Sanders: 'Serious Problems' With How Clinton Handled Classified Material

July 6, 2016

An uncomfortable Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) acknowledged there were "serious problems" with how Hillary Clinton handled classified information at the State Department during an interview Wednesday on CNN.

FBI Director James Comey did not recommend charges against Clinton in a statement about the agency's investigation on Tuesday, but he was scathing in his assessment of her practices with her email server, calling her "extremely careless" with classified information. Wolf Blitzer asked Sanders what he thought of Comey's conclusion.

"As you know, the process continues, and yesterday was a big part of the process. The FBI released the results of its investigation, and now we'll hear from the Justice Department," Sanders said.

Blitzer pointed out Attorney General Loretta Lynch would accept the recommendations before asking if Sanders had confidence in Comey.

"I honestly don't know him very well, but he seemed to have done a pretty thorough investigation," he said.

"But was this a fair conclusion that he came up with?" Blitzer asked.

"I didn't—I don't know the answer to that," Sanders said. "I mean, it seemed to be a reasonable—he's a serious guy and it was a serious investigation."

Sanders appeared flustered as Blitzer kept asking about the case.

"Apparently, the Justice Department's going to release a written statement saying they've accepted the recommendation of the FBI Director," Blitzer said.

"OK, then the process is over," he said.

"The question is, do you have confidence in the way Hillary Clinton handled classified information during her four years as secretary of state?" Blitzer asked.

"I think what the FBI report said is there were serious problems, and that's what the case was," Sanders said.

The Vermont senator technically remains a candidate for the Democratic nomination, although he has essentially admitted Clinton will the party's nominee.