Hillary Clinton speaks with members of the audience following a speech she gave in New York this past December. | Getty Clinton gets hit with email scandal question at the rope line

Vinton, IA — The rope line is usually a friendly space for Hillary Clinton, filled with fans who want selfies or a signature and push toward the front of the room after a speech.

“We need to trump Trump,” one supporter said to Clinton as she shook his hand. “Yes we do!” she smiled widely.


Another fan offered her a baseball to sign for a disabled friend. “Awfully nice of you to do that,” she said while scratching her signature on the ball.

But in a rare moment, a woman on Thursday afternoon approached Clinton at a Vinton skating and recreation center to challenge her over the email scandal that for the most part has faded into the background since last fall.

“How do you plan to sidestep the reality that you are sending secure, SAP emails on your private, unsecured server?” Althea Cole asked Clinton at her second organizing event of the day. “I’m very concerned about national security issues.”

“I am too,” Clinton interjected.

“How much are you asking people to forgive or excuse?” Cole pressed.

Clinton smiled tightly, but she stayed with the woman, answering the question with a definitive tone. “You know what, it’s not true,” Clinton replied. “It’s not true. I never sent or received -- “

“You never received top secret information on your private server?” Cole interrupted the former secretary of state.

“No, no I did not,” Clinton said, ready to move on.

“Well," Cole said, "I appreciate you trying to tell me that."

“Yep, it’s true.”

“I don’t believe her,” Cole mumbled under her breath as she escaped from the crowd.

Cole said she is a Republican but has come out to see Bernie Sanders and plans to see a Martin O'Malley event as well.

“I’m also an Iowan and I have the opportunity to do so,” she said. When asked if she would consider supporting Clinton after seeing her speak, she replied: “Bloody hell, no!”

After the brief negative interaction, Clinton continued on down the line to greet more friendly faces.