Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersNYT editorial board remembers Ginsburg: She 'will forever have two legacies' Two GOP governors urge Republicans to hold off on Supreme Court nominee Sanders knocks McConnell: He's going against Ginsburg's 'dying wishes' MORE is still not jumping on rival Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Warning signs flash for Lindsey Graham in South Carolina MORE's controversial private email server scandal, but said a recent report condemning her actions is something voters and superdelegates will have to take into account.

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"Now, you're right — the inspector general just came out with a report; it was not a good report for Secretary Clinton. That is something that the American people, Democrats and delegates are going to have to take a hard look at," Sanders said in an interview on CBS News's "Face the Nation" Sunday. "But for me right now, I continue to focus on how we can rebuild a disappearing middle class, deal with poverty, guarantee healthcare to all of our people as a right."

A State Department report released last week said Clinton broke department rules when she set up a private email server during her tenure as secretary of State, and the system would not have been approved if she had sought permission before setting it up.

"Well, John, they will be keeping it in mind," Sanders told host John Dickerson when asked about the effects of the report. "I don't have to tell them that. I mean everybody in America is keeping it in mind, and certainly the superdelegates are."

Sanders is still pleading his case to superdelegates from states where he performed well in primary contests, many of whom have already pledged their support to Clinton.

"The point that I'm going to make to the superdelegates, many of whom again came on board before I was in the race, came on board Clinton's campaign is, 'Your job is to make sure Donald Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE is defeated and defeated badly. You have got to determine, based on 100 different factors, which candidate is the strongest candidate to defeat Trump.' If you look at every poll done in the last six weeks, that candidate is Bernie Sanders," Sanders said.

Sanders, unlike presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, has not taken the bait on the Clinton email debacle. He said from the beginning of the primary cycle that people are "sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails," but as the nomination process comes down to the wire and investigations conclude, Sanders may consider using the scandal against her.