MANCHESTER, N.H. — In the span of about an hour on Sunday, Bernie Sanders both did and did not have a position on whether Hillary Clinton should release transcripts of her private paid speeches to groups like Goldman Sachs.
In the final days before the New Hampshire primary here, Clinton's paid speeches have become a point of contention since moderators raised the question in the Democratic debate last Thursday. The candidate and her aides continue to only tell reporters that they will "look into" the prospect of releasing the transcripts to the public. (Clinton has also indicated she will definitely not publish the speeches before the New Hampshire primary, where Sanders is expected to win, on Tuesday.)
Sanders, who has vacillated in recent weeks between aggressive criticism and a softer approach to his rival, offered two responses to the issue on Sunday.
First, on CNN's State of the Union, Sanders said he had no position.
JAKE TAPPER: Hillary Clinton so far has been asked by journalists to release the transcripts from speeches, especially those to Goldman Sachs and others. Do you think she should? And what do you think would be revealed in those transcripts
SANDERS: No idea. I have no idea what she said. I think the decision as to whether or not to release it is her decision.
JAKE TAPPER: You don't have a position on it at all?
SANDERS: No.
Later on, Sanders told John Dickerson, host of CBS News's Face the Nation, that voters should "know what was said behind closed doors."
DICKERSON: You've dismissed some of the issues that the press has tried to raise about Hillary Clinton — her emails for example. Where are you on this question of whether she should release transcripts of the speeches she gave to financial firms?
SANDERS: Yeah, well a lot of people think you know that’s ultimately her decision. I mean, her point is that she’s given these speeches. My understanding now is her campaign says she’s not going to release those transcripts. That’s her decision. But I think it would be you know a positive thing for the American people to know what was said behind closed doors —
DICKERSON: Alright.
SANDERS: — to Wall Street, but ultimately that is her decision.
DICKERSON: OK, Sen. Bernie Sanders, thanks so much for being with us.
Sanders aides did not respond to a request for comment.