Former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Tuesday that he will vote for Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonTrump won't 'save' Social Security, but ruin it Retired general attacks Trump in new Clinton ad Trump: Clinton's Syria policy would lead to 'World War III' MORE, becoming the latest member of the George W. Bush administration to back the Democratic presidential nominee.
Speaking at the Long Island Association Fall Luncheon, Powell condemned GOP presidential nominee Donald TrumpDonald TrumpTrump won't 'save' Social Security, but ruin it Retired general attacks Trump in new Clinton ad Trump: Clinton's Syria policy would lead to 'World War III' MORE while praising Clinton for her experience and stamina, according to reporters at the event.
Boom. Colin Powell says he will vote for Hillary Clinton. Says will serve w/ distinction and cites experience and stamina
— Robert Brodsky (@BrodskyRobert) October 25, 2016
Colin Powell is apparently over being annoyed with Clinton -says at Long Island Association he plans to vote for her, and condemns Trump.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) October 25, 2016
Paul Pachter, the CEO of Long Island Cares, Inc., attended the luncheon and also tweeted that Powell announced his support for Clinton.
Gen. Colin Powell has announced to @LongIslandAssoc that he will be supporting @HillaryClinton for POTUS
— Paule Pachter (@PaulePachter) October 25, 2016
Powell, a registered Republican, slammed Clinton's reported comments to the FBI naming him as the inspiration for her private email setup while she led the State Department.
“Her people have been trying to pin it on me,” Powell told People in August.
“The truth is she was using [her email setup] for a year before I sent her a memo telling her what I did.”
Clinton had told the FBI that Powell advised her to use a personal email account. Both Powell and Clinton used private email accounts during their times at the State Department, earning them stern reprimands from an inspector general earlier this year.
Leaked Powell emails released earlier this year also showed he was not excited about a Trump-Clinton matchup.
He called Trump a "national disgrace" and described Clinton as "greedy."
"I would rather not have to vote for her, although she is a friend I respect," Powell wrote in a 2014 email exchange with New York financier Jeffrey Leeds.
"A 70-year person with a long track record, unbridled ambition, greedy, not transformational, with a husband still d---ing bimbos at home (according to the NYP)."
--This report was updated at 3:14 p.m.