Clinton’s $675,000 Blunder: Dem Frontrunner Fumbles Question About Speaking Fees

At the Democratic town hall in Derry, New Hampshire Wednesday night, Hillary Clinton fumbled her response to questions about the large fees she had received for giving speeches at Goldman Sachs. Tying to downplay her critics’ concerns that the fees might have compromised her integrity in any way, the former secretary of state simply stated, “That’s what they offered, so…” before shrugging to the audience.

CNN host Anderson Cooper noted that Clinton had been paid $675,000 for giving three speeches to the Wall Street firm. “Was that a mistake?” Cooper asked. “I mean, was that a bad error in judgment?”

CLINTON: Look. I made speeches to lots of groups. I told them what I thought. I answered questions.

COOPER: But did you have to be paid $675,000?

CLINTON: Well, I don’t know. That’s what they offered, so…

Clinton added that she had accepted the speaking fees before she had committed to running for president, and that the fees would not dissuade her from pushing back against Wall Street.

You know anybody who knows me who thinks that they can influence me, name anything they’ve influenced me on. Just name one thing. I’m out here every day saying I’m going to shut them down, I’m going after them. I’m going to jail them if they should be jailed. I’m going to break them up.

“I mean they’re not giving me very much money now. I can tell you that much,” Clinton said.

[image via screengrab]

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