Clinton links her Wall Street donations to 9/11 attacks

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton has linked her contributions from Wall Street to her work in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

“So, I represented New York, and I represented New York on 9/11 when we were attacked. Where were we attacked? We were attacked in downtown Manhattan where Wall Street is,” Clinton said during Saturday night's Democratic debate. 

“I did spend a whole lot of time and effort helping them rebuild. That was good for New York. It was good for the economy and it was a way to rebuke the terrorists who had attacked our country,” she added.

The former secretary of state and New York senator made the comments when her rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders, questioned her acceptance of donations from the financial industry.

“Let’s not be naïve about it,” Sanders argued. “Why over her political career has Wall Street been the major campaign contributor to Hillary Clinton? Now maybe they’re dumb and they don’t know what they’re going to get, but I don’t think so.”

Clinton described the implication as an affront to her integrity. “He has basically used his answer to impugn my integrity, let’s be frank here.”

Clinton also pushed back against a real-time tweet, displayed by panelist Nancy Cordes, by someone who appeared displeased with her remark.

“Well, I'm sorry that whoever tweeted that had that impression because I worked closely with New Yorkers after 9/11 for my entire first term," she responded. “So, yes, I did know people. I've had a lot of folks give me donations from all kinds of backgrounds.”

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement that it was a “new low” for Clinton, adding that she "shamefully hid behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks in a bizarre attempt to deflect attention from her ties to her wealthy donors."

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