Why do so many people hate Hillary Clinton? From the corruption rumours and conspiracy theories to the Benghazi attacks and email scandal
HILLARY Clinton has been branded the second most unpopular Presidential candidate ever – behind Republican rival Donald Trump.
But while Trump’s brashness and divisive immigration policies, such as banning all Muslims from entering the US, make him an obvious target for abuse – the vitriol levelled at the former First Lady can be confusing to casual political observers.
Of course, the fact that the FBI is investigating the Democratic nominee over her use of a private email server while she was Secretary of State – gives a glimpse into the controversy which surrounds Clinton.
From corruption accusations to crack-pot conspiracy theories – we are going to look at the various reasons why so many Americans hate Hillary Clinton.
What is the Hillary Clinton email scandal?
When she was sworn in as Sectary of State in 2009, Clinton opted to use her own private email server instead of a server hosted by the US government.
While she insists this was done because of convenience, the FBI ruled that she had created a security risk by making state secrets vulnerable to hackers.
After the Feds opened the original investigation into her server in March 2015, Clinton denied she had any classified information was sent via her email.
However, it was later revealed that 110 emails were either marked ‘secret’ or ‘top secret’ at the time which they were sent.
This is one of the reasons why Clinton’s detractors, many of whom operate within the right of the political spectrum, claim she is a proven lair.
Now after closing the case against her in July, the FBI has re-opened the investigation after finding a cache of emails on the laptop of disgraced politician Anthony Weiner.
Weiner is the estranged husband of top Clinton aide Huma Abedin.
What was the Benghazi attack and how was Clinton involved?
Another huge controversy which occurred during Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State was the attack on two United States outposts in Benghazi, Libya in 2012.
The attack by Islamic militants left four Americans dead including US Ambassador Chris Stevens.
Following the assault, it was revealed that ‘hundreds’ of requests for additional security were ‘ignored’ by the State Department – which was run by Clinton.
In 2013, Clinton testified in front of Congress and accepted responsibility for the attack.
What is the Clinton Foundation and why is it controversial?
Clinton has been dogged with corruption accusations relating to her role as Secretary of State and her family’s charity the Clinton Foundation.
During an interview in 2014, the former First Lady claimed she and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, were “dead broke” after leaving the White House in 2001.
However, since the pair have amassed a whopping $111 million combined.
The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation is an international charitable organisation founded in 1997.
The foundation says it has raised $2bn (£1.5bn), employs more than 2,000 workers and maintains an annual budget of more than $223m (£170m).
But despite having an A rating from Charity Watch, the foundation has faced controversy over multi-million dollar donations which allegedly could have influenced policy while Hillary was Secretary of State.
In 2015, book Clinton Cash referenced numerous examples of donations that were followed by State Department actions favourable to donors.
The Clintons also faced controversy over donations linked to a Russian atomic energy agency Rosatom.
In 2013, the organisation grew massively when it took over a Canadian company with uranium mining stakes.
The donations were not publicly disclosed by the Clintons. Her campaign team stressed there was no evidence she did anything improper.
What are the conspiracy theories surrounding Clinton?
Much like the crack-pot theories peddled by far-right organisations about Barack Obama’s place of birth (a theory which was championed by Donald Trump) – the Clintons have also been plagued by sensational claims.
While there are many conspiracy theories surrounding the Clintons, the main one which sometimes drifts into mainstream discourse is that Bill and Hillary are ‘murderers’.
This crazy claim started with the death of the power couple’s former friend and deputy White House counsel Vince Foster.
Foster was found dead in his Virginia home in July 1993 and despite conspiracy nuts insisting the Clinton’s had covered up his murder – six official investigations ruled his death a suicide.
However, this has led to delusional opponents of the pair linking the Clintons to dozens of other ‘murders’.
And because fringe media outlets, mostly talk radio shows and websites, give voice to these bizarre theories, thousands of Americans believe them to be true.
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