“I don’t want to characterize any further what the FBI Director said,” Obama said. “I think he was comprehensive, unusually so, about how they arrived at the decision. I think Hillary’s acknowledged that she made a mistake.”

He bristled at the idea of her engaging in “criminal activities,” taking exception to the rhetoric at the Republican National Convention that included chants of “lock her up.” Bernie Sanders supporters have also cried she should be imprisoned at the Democratic National Convention, however.

“Folks are rough on Hillary Clinton in ways that, even as somebody who’s had my share of getting whacked in the public eye, I’m surprised by sometimes, and I don’t think it’s fair,” Obama said.