Most Americans disapprove of the FBI’s recommendation not to charge likely Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton over the private email server she used as secretary of state, and a majority also said the issue makes them worried about what she’d do if elected, according to a poll released Monday.
Fifty-six percent said they disapprove of FBI Director James B. Comey’s decision not to recommend charging Mrs. Clinton, compared to 35 percent who said they approve, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released Monday.
Meanwhile, 57 percent said the issue makes them worried about what she’d do if elected president, while 39 percent said it’s unrelated.
Fifty-eight percent said the issue made no difference as to whether they would support Mrs. Clinton for president, compared to 28 percent who said it made them less likely to do so and 10 percent who said it made them more likely to support her.
Last week, Mr. Comey said Mrs. Clinton was reckless with her email practices but did not recommend charges. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced last Wednesday she was accepting the recommendations of no charges.
Mr. Comey testified to Congress on Thursday that Mrs. Clinton — a former secretary of state, U.S. senator, and first lady — might not have been “sophisticated” enough to understand classification markings.
Nearly nine in 10 Republicans said they disagreed with Mr. Comey’s decision and said it worries them about what Mrs. Clinton would do if elected.
About two-thirds of Democrats, meanwhile, said they agree with the decision not to recommend charges and that the issue is unrelated to what she’d do as president.
About six in 10 independents said the FBI was wrong in the decision and that the issue raises concerns about Mrs. Clinton as president.
Forty-five percent of Republicans said the issue makes no difference in their vote, while 47 percent said it makes them less likely to support her.
Three-quarters of Democrats said the issue doesn’t make a difference for them, compared to 16 percent who said it strengthened their support and about one in 10 who said it’s made them less likely to support her.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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