The possibility of Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE imprisoning Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Poll: 51 percent of voters want to abolish the electoral college MORE is unthinkable and resemblant of authoritarian governments, Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Bernie Sanders warns of 'nightmare scenario' if Trump refuses election results Harris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda MORE said Thursday.

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Asked on CNN if President Obama should pardon Clinton for using a private email server while secretary of state, Sanders initially pushed back.

"To pardon Hillary Clinton? Hillary Clinton is not indicted," Sanders said, referring to the FBI's decision not to recommend charges.

Anchor Wolf Blitzer elaborated, saying Trump promised to hire a special prosecutor to investigate her.

"President Obama will do what he feels is best," Sanders responded.

"But the idea, in a Democracy in the United States of America, that a winning candidate would try to imprison the losing candidate, that's what dictatorship is about. That's what authoritarian countries are about. You do not imprison somebody you ran against because you have differences of opinion," Sanders said.

"That would be an outrage beyond belief, and I think the vast majority of American people would find that totally unacceptable to even think about those things."

During a presidential debate last month, Trump vowed to appoint a special prosecutor to examine Clinton's use of a private email server and remarked that she would "be in jail" if he were president.

The Obama administration has not commented on a possible pardon.