Oops: Hillary Accidentally Says Presidents Shouldn’t Have to Disclose Criminal History

In a keynote speech given to the Charleston NAACP, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton accidentally said presidents shouldn’t have to disclose their criminal history when applying for a job.

As part of Clinton’s criminal justice reforms, she supports “banning the box,” meaning the box former criminals have to check on a job application acknowledging they committed a misdemeanor or felony. But as she was articulating that stance to her audience Friday, she made a verbal slip-up.

“Earlier today, I announced that as president, I will take steps to ban the box, so former presidents won’t have to declare their criminal history at the very start of the hiring process,” she said. “That way, they’ll have a chance to be seen as more than just someone who’s done time.”

Clinton of course meant “former prisoners“. But the gaffe was amusing nonetheless, given the current FBI investigation circling around the presidential candidate’s private email server. But it could have just as easily been an accidental barb at George W. Bush‘s drunk driving charge or Barack Obama‘s cocaine use.

Watch above, via Slate.

[Image via screengrab]
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