Hillary Clinton Blames FBI Director For Devastating Election Loss; Clinton Aides Lambasted Media’s Role In Her Defeat

Hillary Clinton attributed her loss to Republican president-elect Donald Trump to FBI Director James Comey, claiming that their momentum towards victory was imperiled by the reopening of the probe into her email use. This statement was relayed by Clinton in a 30-minute conference attended by her campaign's fund-raisers and donors.

The former Secretary of State believed that Comey's letters to the U.S. Congress on the probe had favored Donald Trump, with crucial states tilting toward the businessman. One donor cited Clinton's remarks that "There are lots of reasons why an election like this is not successful." Clinton stressed that "Comey's letter raising doubts that were groundless, baseless, proven to be, stopped our momentum."

Comey released a second letter clearing Hillary Clinton from the probe, two days before the 2016 U.S. elections. For Clinton, that letter is more damaging, hurting voters who did not trust her. Clinton's aides said that white suburban women who were undecided went for Trump.

Two weeks before Election Day, Comey sent a letter to the U.S. Congress informing the FBI's plan to reopen the probe into Hillary Clinton's controversial email practices, following the discovery of new messages. On November 6, just three days before the election, the FBI announced that it found no wrongdoing in the emails.

The Hill reported that Hillary Clinton's aides also blamed the media for the shocking demolition of the former senator by Donald Trump. They criticized the media for eviscerating Clinton before the election. They noted that the media portrayed Trump as someone who was entertaining.

Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, communications director Jennifer Palmieri and other Clinton aides lambasted the press for creating a "false moral equivalency" in its election coverage. Podesta questioned the media for overlooking the conflicts of Donald Trump's businesses annd his links to Russian interests, and for failing to dig into Trump's income tax controversy.