Hillary Clinton Says Bill Clinton’s Crime Bill Was A Mistake

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton stands on stage during the National Anthem before a Democratic presidential primary debate at the University of Michigan-Flint, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Flint, Mich.... Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton stands on stage during the National Anthem before a Democratic presidential primary debate at the University of Michigan-Flint, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Flint, Mich. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Hillary Clinton was asked at CNN’s Sunday debate to defend her support of a major crime bill that was passed while her husband Bill Clinton was president — legislation that has been blamed for the rise in incarceration rates. She conceded the bill was a mistake.

“Your husband said the bill was a mistake,” moderator Don Lemon said, after her initial explanation of why she supported the bill.

“I just said that. There were some aspects of it that worked well, the violence against women provisions have worked well, for example,” Clinton said. “But other aspects of it were a mistake and I agree. That’s why I am focused and have a very comprehensive approach towards fixing the criminal justice system, going after systemic racism that stalks the justice system, ending private prisons and ending the incarceration of low-level offenders and I am committed to doing that.”

Clinton also noted that Sanders too supported the legislation, and the question was posed to him.

“Bills have bad stuff and bills in Congress that have good stuff. Good and bad stuff in the same bill,” Sanders said. “If I voted against that bill, Secretary Clinton would be here and saying, ‘Bernie Sanders voted against the ban on assault weapons. Bernie Sanders voted against the Violence Against Women Act.’ Those were provisions in the bill, as the secretary indicated. In that bill there was good provisions.”

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: