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Clinton says she would break up “big banks” if needed

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks from a gymnasium side porch to people who weren't able to fit in to hear her speech at Fisk University Friday, Nov. 20, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks from a gymnasium side porch to people who weren't able to fit in to hear her speech at Fisk University Friday, Nov. 20, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

By Associated Press November 21, 2015 1 min read

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) – Hillary Rodham Clinton says she is willing to split apart big financial institutions should the need arise.

The Democratic primary front-runner told Democrats gathered in North Charleston on Saturday that she has the “toughest” proposals for dealing with Wall Street. She says would “break up the big banks” if necessary and hold top financial executives accountable.

The issue of Clinton’s ties to Wall Street is getting a fresh look after last weekend’s Democratic presidential debate.

Both of her primary rivals back reinstating the law known as Glass-Steagall, which once separated commercial and investment banks.

But Clinton and her advisers argue that Glass-Steagall would not have prevented the failure of large financial institutions, such as investment bank Lehman Brothers and insurer AIG, during the Great Recession.