Citizens United's Letter to the Clinton Foundation
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May 13, 2015 Mr. Bruce Lindsey Chairman of the Board Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation 1271 Avenue of the Americas, 42nd Floor New York, NY 10020 Dear Mr. Lindsey, As you are aware, media reports have confirmed that the Clinton Foundation accepted donations from foreign governments and other foreign entities during Hillary Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State. I write on behalf of the 500,000 members of Citizens United nationwide who are concerned that these donations open the door to conflicts of interests that could jeopardize U.S. national security now or in the future. During Secretary Clinton’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in January 2009, then-committee Chairman John Kerry voiced concern that Secretary Clinton’s foreign travel on behalf of the U.S. Government and President Clinton’s foreign travel on behalf of the Clinton Foundation could raise questions if the points of destination ever intersected: “If you are traveling to some country and you meet with the foreign leadership, and a week later or two weeks later or three weeks later the president travels there and solicits a donation, and they pledge to give at some point in the future, but nobody knows, is there an appearance of a conflict?” I agreed with then-Senator Kerry’s concerns and continue to now that Secretary Clinton is an official candidate for the presidency of the United States. In light of the fact it’s been recently stated that President Clinton will continue to be “completely focused right now on the foundation,” not only should the Clinton Foundation disclose all of President Clinton’s foreign travel from this point forward, but also release details of his foreign travel during Secretary Clinton’s time as Secretary of State.
Citizens United's Letter to the Clinton Foundation
As you are aware, media reports have confirmed that the Clinton Foundation accepted donations from foreign governments and other foreign entities during Hillary Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State. I write on behalf of the 500,000 members of Citizens United nationwide who are concerned that these donations open the door to conflicts of interests that could jeopardize U.S. national security now or in the future....
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May 13, 2015
Mr. Bruce Lindsey Chairman of the Board Bill, Hillary &
Chelsea Clinton Foundation 1271 Avenue of the Americas, 42nd Floor
New York, NY 10020
Dear Mr. Lindsey,
As you are aware, media reports have confirmed that the Clinton
Foundation accepted donations from foreign governments and other
foreign entities during Hillary Clintons tenure as Secretary of
State. I write on behalf of the 500,000 members of Citizens United
nationwide who are concerned that these donations open the door to
conflicts of interests that could jeopardize U.S. national security
now or in the future.
During Secretary Clintons confirmation hearing before the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee in January 2009, then-committee
Chairman John Kerry voiced concern that Secretary Clintons foreign
travel on behalf of the U.S. Government and President Clintons
foreign travel on behalf of the Clinton Foundation could raise
questions if the points of destination ever intersected:
If you are traveling to some country and you meet with the
foreign leadership, and a week later or two weeks later or three
weeks later the president travels there and solicits a donation,
and they pledge to give at some point in the future, but nobody
knows, is there an appearance of a conflict?
I agreed with then-Senator Kerrys concerns and continue to now
that Secretary Clinton is an official candidate for the presidency
of the United States. In light of the fact its been recently stated
that President Clinton will continue to be completely focused right
now on the foundation, not only should the Clinton Foundation
disclose all of President Clintons foreign travel from this point
forward, but also release details of his foreign travel during
Secretary Clintons time as Secretary of State.
As President Clinton and Secretary Clinton both profess to be
strong proponents of transparency and public disclosure, compliance
with this request by the Clinton Foundation would be a significant
step in showing that the Clintons are sensitive to Americans
concerns on both sides of the aisle who are trying to understand
the unique scenario of how to balance a former Presidents work
around the world with a spouses foreign policy positions and what
happens when those interests diverge. I look forward to hearing
from you on this important issue.
