Joseph Spector and Jon Campbell

Democrat & Chronicle

ALBANY, N.Y. — Former president Bill Clinton on Monday said Hillary Clinton "couldn't prevail" against Russian hackers and the FBI in the weeks leading up to the presidential election.

Bill Clinton, who was at the state Capitol to cast his ballot as a New York elector, briefly spoke to reporters following the meeting of New York's Electoral College, acknowledging it was "bittersweet" to vote for his wife.

"Yeah, but I've never cast a vote I was prouder of," he told reporters.

The former president was one of 29 New York electors who officially cast their ballot for Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of State and Democratic presidential nominee who lost to President-elect Donald Trump on Nov. 8. She beat Trump 59% to 37% in their home state.

Bill Clinton said he was proud of the work his wife did on the campaign trail.

But he said the FBI's handling of an investigation into the Clintons' email servers and Russian hackers who intelligence officials believe targeted Clinton's campaign were too much to overcome.

"I've watched her battle through that bogus email deal and be vindicated at the end," Bill Clinton said.

"She fought through everything, and she prevailed against it all. But, you know, with the end we had the Russians and the FBI deal, which she couldn't prevail against that."

The former president headlined the list of New York electors, which also included a slate of top state dignitaries, labor leaders and elected officials.

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