Yesterday, I wrote about the news that the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation has accepted millions of dollars of contributions from foreign governments at a time when Hillary is planning her run for the presidency. The appearance (and reality) that these governments are buying influence in a future Clinton administration is tawdry to say the least. Today, however, there is more news out about this mess, and it makes the situation worse for Mrs. Clinton.
First of all, we learned that many companies that lobby the State Department contributed to the Clinton foundation. While Hillary was secretary of state, the Obama administration required the foundation to avoid accepting gifts from foreign governments in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety. The acceptance of the foreign cash only began again once Hillary left State. The latest reports say that the Clinton foundation, however, took gifts from companies that had business before the State Department while Hillary was in charge there. There is no evidence yet that these contributions affected decisions made by the State Department, but we don't yet know all of the details.
Second, we also learned that much of the money spent by the foundation has been on items most people would not consider charity. For example, last year the Clinton foundation spent over eight million dollars on travel expenses. That's EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS!! Put another way, the foundation spent over $150,000 per week on travel expenses. Is this for lavish private flights for the Clintons? We need to get an explanation. Once again, it certainly gives the appearance that the foundation is being used as a vehicle to cover certain personal expenses for the Clintons. There may be a valid explanation for all this, but Mrs. Clinton is going to have to come forward with that explanation quickly.
One last note: why is it that the Clintons always get embroiled in scandals about money and possible payoffs? It began when Hillary suddenly made $100,000 in profits on commodities trading back in Arkansas in events that looked a lot like a payoff from Tyson Foods, a major employer in that state. Then there was Whitewater, the land development scheme that led to all sorts of investigations in the 1990s. One would think that by now the Clintons would have learned their lesson.
First of all, we learned that many companies that lobby the State Department contributed to the Clinton foundation. While Hillary was secretary of state, the Obama administration required the foundation to avoid accepting gifts from foreign governments in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety. The acceptance of the foreign cash only began again once Hillary left State. The latest reports say that the Clinton foundation, however, took gifts from companies that had business before the State Department while Hillary was in charge there. There is no evidence yet that these contributions affected decisions made by the State Department, but we don't yet know all of the details.
Second, we also learned that much of the money spent by the foundation has been on items most people would not consider charity. For example, last year the Clinton foundation spent over eight million dollars on travel expenses. That's EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS!! Put another way, the foundation spent over $150,000 per week on travel expenses. Is this for lavish private flights for the Clintons? We need to get an explanation. Once again, it certainly gives the appearance that the foundation is being used as a vehicle to cover certain personal expenses for the Clintons. There may be a valid explanation for all this, but Mrs. Clinton is going to have to come forward with that explanation quickly.
One last note: why is it that the Clintons always get embroiled in scandals about money and possible payoffs? It began when Hillary suddenly made $100,000 in profits on commodities trading back in Arkansas in events that looked a lot like a payoff from Tyson Foods, a major employer in that state. Then there was Whitewater, the land development scheme that led to all sorts of investigations in the 1990s. One would think that by now the Clintons would have learned their lesson.
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