Bernie Sanders Defends Hillary Clinton on Email Controversy at Debate

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders had a made-for-TV moment of solidarity at the Democratic debate Tuesday, shaking hands and declaring to a standing ovation that controversy over Clinton’s email is much ado about nothing.

“I’ve taken responsibility for it. I did say it was a mistake,” Clinton said of her use of a personal email server during her time as Secretary of State. “I have been as transparent as I know to be, turning over 55,000 pages of my e-mails, asking that they be made public.”

Clinton went on to blast the congressional committee investigating the matter, calling it “an arm of the Republican National Committee” and a “partisan vehicle,” noting recent statements made by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy that it had succeeded in hurting her poll numbers. She went on to say she’d rather spend the debate talking about “the issues that matter to the American people.”

Sanders chimed in: “I think the Secretary is right. And that is I think the American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails.”

Underdog Lincoln Chafee, however, was eager to pile on. “There’s an issue of American credibility out there,” he said. “So any time someone is running to be our leader, and a world leader, which the American president is, credibility is an issue out there with the world.”

Asked if she wanted to respond, Clinton simply replied: “No.”

See Bernie Sanders' Career in Photographs

Bernie Sanders (R), member of the steering committee, stands next to George Beadle, University of Chicago president, who is speaking at a Committee On Racial Equality meeting on housing sit-ins. 1962.

Special Collections Research Center/University of Chicago Library

A photo taken on July 22, 2015 of Bernie Sanders and his son is seen in an old clip from an alternative newspaper called the Vermont Freeman in Burlington, VT.

The Washington Post/Getty Images

Bernie Sanders in his office after winning his first election as the mayor of Burlington, Vt. on Sept. 15, 1981.

Donna Light—AP

Bernie Sanders, right, greeted voters at a Burlington polling place on March 1, 1983 in Burlington, Vt.

Donna Light—AP

Bernie Sanders and his campaign celebrating after his mayoral re-election circa 1983 in Burlington, Vt.

Courtesy of Bernie Sanders Campaign

Bernie Sanders recording his singing in a studio Nov. 20, 1987 in Burlington, Vt.

Toby Talbot—AP

Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane O'Meara in Washington circa 1991.

Courtesy of Bernie Sanders Campaign

Bernie Sanders, James Jeffords and Patrick Leahy toast to the passing of the Northeast Dairy Compact on June 14, 2006 in Montpelier, Vt.

Toby Talbot—AP

Bernie Sanders officially announces his candidacy for U.S. Senate on May 19, 2006, at the Unitarian Church in Burlington, Vt.

Alden Pelett—AP

Bernie Sanders and the other members of the Vermont Congressional delegation at the annual lighting of U.S. Capitol Christmas on Dec. 5, 2007 in Washington.

Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaks during a rally in support of Social Security with Sen. Tom Harkin and Bernie Sanders on March 28, 2011 in Washington.

Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images

Rep. Steve Cohen and Bernie Sanders attend a rally near the reflection pool, held by 350.org to protest the amount of money members of Congress receive from the fossil fuel industry on Jan. 24, 2012.

Tom Williams—Getty Images

Bernie Sanders at the signing ceremony of Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act on Aug. 7, 2014 in Belvoir, Va.

Alex Wong—Getty Images

Bernie Sanders waits to speak at a rally to advocate for an increase in pay to $15 USD per hour, as part of a "Fight for $15" labor effort on April 22, 2015 in Washington.

Brendan Smialowski—AFP/Getty Images

Bernie Sanders shakes Colleen Green's hand as he leaves a town hall meeting on May 11, 2015. in Charlottesville, Va.

Jay Paul— Reuters

Bernie Sanders kisses his wife, Jane O'Meara, before officially announcing his candidacy for the U.S. presidency during an event at Waterfront Park May 26, 2015 in Burlington, Vt.

Win McNamee—Getty Images

Bernie Sanders delivers remarks at a town meeting at the South Church May 27, 2015 in Portsmouth, N.H.

Win McNamee—Getty Images

Bernie Sanders speaks during a news conference to discuss legislation to restore pension guarantees for thousands of retired union workers on June 18, 2015 in Washington.

Jim Watson—AFP/Getty Images

Bernie Sanders kisses his wife Jane O'Meara during a campaign event on Aug. 10, 2015 in Los Angeles.

Bloomberg/Getty Images

Bernie Sanders speaks to a primarily Latino audience during a campaign stop at the Muscatine Boxing Club on Sept. 4, 2015 in Muscatine, Iowa.

Bloomberg/Getty Images

Bernie Sanders and Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University, listen to a prayer during a Liberty University Convocation on Sept. 14, 2015 in Lynchburg, Va.

Bloomberg/Getty Images

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, right, and his wife Jane O’Meara, wave to the crowd as he is announced onstage to speak to supporters during a campaign rally on Sept. 14, 2015 in Manassas, Va.

Cliff Owen—AP

Bernie Sanders joins Cornell William Brooks in a march with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on Sept. 15, 2015 from Selma, Ala. to Washington.

Brendan Smialowski—AFP/Getty Images

1 of 23

Advertisement

Contact us at editors@time.com.