Wednesday on Fox News Channel’s “The O’Reilly Factor,” Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump downplayed the possibility of Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton’s White House hopes being spoiled by an indictment over transgressions stemming from her use of a private email server while secretary of state during President Barack Obama’s first term.
He did, however, tell host Bill O’Reilly he thought the emails would be fair game in a campaign situation for her opponents.
“I think the emails – I don’t think that’s playing dirty pool,” Trump said. “I think the emails are a big part of her life story right now. What she did is terrible and we’re going to see what happens.”
But Trump said he did not foresee an indictment because he thought Democrats were protecting her.
“No, because I think the Democrat Party is going to protect her,” he added. “I don’t think she is going to be indicted. I that what she has done is very, very serious. I know for a fact what Gen. [David] Petraeus and others have done is much less. And it destroyed their lives. So, I do believe, Bill, that she is being protected.”
O’Reilly asked if it were possible the Democratic Party was working an “non-corruptible” agency like the FBI to prevent the indictment. Trump answered by saying there was a human element to this. But he added the danger for Clinton would be if another president’s administration looked at it within the six-year statute of limitations.
“I hope they are not working together,” he replied. “You know, they are humans and they are people and they do talk, I would imagine. And I would like to think they don’t work together. But I would say that she is being protected. Now, what she can’t be protected from is the statute of limitations because on the assumption that somebody else got in – that’s a real dangerous situation.”
O’Reilly followed up by asking Trump if he would look at it if he were president, to which Trump acknowledged he “certainly” would.
“Certainly this falls within that period of time,” he added. “And you certainly have to look at it, very fairly. I would only do something if it was 100 percent fair. Certainly that is something that you would look at.”
Follow Jeff Poor on Twitter @jeff_poor
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