In August 2016 , Powell accused the Clinton campaign of trying to pin Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton 's email controversy on him . Speaking to '' People '' magazine , Powell said , " The truth is , she was using the private email server for a year before I sent her a memo telling her what I did . " On September 13 , 2016 , emails were obtained that revealed Powell 's private communications regarding both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton . Powell privately reiterated his comments regarding Clinton 's email scandal , writing , " I have told Hillary 's minions repeatedly that they are making a mistake trying to drag me in , yet they still try , " and complaining that " Hillary 's mafia keeps trying to suck me into it " in another email . In another email discussing Clinton 's controversy , Powell noted that she should have told everyone what she did " two years ago " , and said that she has not " been covering herself with glory . " Writing on the 2012 Benghazi attack controversy surrounding Clinton , Powell said to then U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice , " Benghazi is a stupid witch hunt . " Commenting on Clinton in a general sense , Powell mused that " Everything Clinton touches she kind of screws up with hubris " , and in another email stated " I would rather not have to vote for her , although she is a friend I respect . " Powell referred to Donald Trump as a " national disgrace " , with " no sense of shame " . He wrote of Trump 's role in the birther movement , which he referred to as " racist " . Powell suggested that the media ignore Trump , saying , " To go on and call him an idiot just emboldens him . " The emails were obtained by the media as the result of a hack
2012 Benghazi attack
2012 Benghazi attack
Colin Powell