Clinton Foundation Foreign Donors

HEADLINE: “Hillary’s State Department OK’d Bill’s Big-Money Speeches” [Politico, 2/25/15] Politico: “Bill Clinton Asked The State Department To Approve A Paid, Videotaped Speech He Was Asked To Make At A Gala In Shanghai,” Which “Raised A Note Of Caution That The Chinese Government Might Actually Be Funding The Speech Or Planning To Profit From It.” “Less than a year after Hillary Clinton became secretary of state, former President Bill Clinton asked the State Department to approve a paid, videotaped speech he was asked to make at a gala in Shanghai, sponsored by a Chinese sports foundation. Wealthy hedge fund manager Kai Jiang wanted to pay the former president an undisclosed amount through a charity fund set up by his wife…But unlike hundreds of big-dollar Bill Clinton speeches that sailed through a State Department ethics approval process while Hillary Clinton served as America’s top diplomat, this one raised a note of caution that the Chinese government might actually be funding the speech or planning to profit from it.” [Politico, 2/25/15] Politico: In Reviewing Bill Clinton’s Speaking Engagements, State Department Officials Struggled “To Get Basic Information About The Event’s Hosts, Their Possible Connections To The Chinese Government And The Financial Arrangements Offered To Bill Clinton.” “In the case of the Shanghai Sports Development Foundation gala, department ethics attorneys exchanged seven emails with President Clinton’s office over two weeks, struggling to get basic information about the event’s hosts, their possible connections to the Chinese government and the financial arrangements offered to Bill Clinton.” [Politico, 2/25/15] Politico: Email Exchanges “Made Clear The Difficulties The Government Faced Getting Information About Bill Clinton’s Far-Flung Moneymaking Efforts Through An Ethics Review Process Hillary Clinton Agreed To” Upon Becoming Secretary Of State. “The inconclusive bureaucratic back and forth — with weeks of emails asking for greater detail — made clear the difficulties the government faced getting information about Bill Clinton’s far-flung moneymaking efforts through an ethics review process Hillary Clinton agreed to when she joined President Barack Obama’s Cabinet.” [Politico, 2/25/15] Politico: “In Hundreds Of Documents Released To POLITICO Under The Freedom Of Information Act, Not A Single Case Appears Where The State Department Explicitly Rejected A Bill Clinton Speech.” “In hundreds of documents released to POLITICO under the Freedom of Information Act, not a single case appears where the State Department explicitly rejected a Bill Clinton speech.” [Politico, 2/25/15] Politico: In Reviewing Bill Clinton Speeches For Potential Conflicts Of Interest, “State Department Lawyers Acted On Sparse Information About Business Proposals And Speech Requests And Were Under The Gun To Approve The Proposals Promptly.” “In hundreds of documents released to POLITICO under the Freedom of Information Act, not a single case appears where the State Department explicitly rejected a Bill Clinton speech. Instead, the records show State Department lawyers acted on sparse information about business proposals and speech requests and were under the gun to approve the proposals promptly.” [Politico, 2/25/15] Politico: A State Department “Ethics Agreement Did Not Require That Clinton Provide The Estimated Income From His Private Arrangements, Making It Difficult For Ethics Officials To Tell Whether His Services Were Properly Valued.” [Politico, 2/25/15] Politico: A Proposed Speech Sponsored By The Chinese Sports Foundation And A Consulting Deal With Haim Saban Are “Are The Only Examples In The Released Documents Where Serious Concerns Were Registered” By The State Department. “The proposed China speech and one consulting deal with a major player in Middle East policy are the only examples in the released documents where serious concerns were registered. The records include requests to speak to investment groups, colleges and foreign entities…. State Department records indicate that the deals with the Bing and Wasserman firms were approved, but the Saban proposal generated resistance.” [Politico, 2/25/15]

Politico: While The State Department Ethics Agreement “Subjected Bill Clinton’s Moneymaking Activities To Official Review, It Imposed No Vetting On Donations To The Clinton Foundation By Individuals Or Private Companies In The U.S. Or Abroad.” “The records also highlight a blind spot in the ethics deal the Clintons and the Obama transition team hammered out in 2008 with the involvement of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: While the pact subjected Bill Clinton’s moneymaking activities to official review, it imposed no vetting on donations to the Clinton Foundation by individuals or private companies in the U.S. or abroad.” [Politico, 2/25/15] Politico: “In A 2009 Memo Greenlighting [Clinton Speaking Engagements], A State Department Ethics Official Specifically Asked About Possible Links Between President Clinton’s Speaking Engagements And Donations To The Clinton Foundation.” “In a 2009 memo greenlighting those talks, a State Department ethics official specifically asked about possible links between President Clinton’s speaking engagements and donations to the Clinton Foundation. However, the released documents show no evidence that the question was addressed. ‘In future requests, I would suggest including a statement listing whether or not any of the proposed sponsors of a speaking event have made a donation to the Clinton Foundation and, if so, the amount and date,’ wrote Jim Thessin, then the State Department’s top ethics approver and No. 2 lawyer.” [Politico, 2/25/15] State Department Spokesman On Bill Clinton Speaking Arrangements: “In Several Respects, Secretary Clinton’s Commitments Went Beyond The Requirements Of Applicable Laws And Regulations…We Believe Secretary Clinton Honored Fully These Undertakings.” [Politico, 2/25/15] Clinton Foundation: “President Clinton And The Clinton Foundation Both Held Themselves To Much Higher Standards Than Existing Rules For Spouses Of Government Officials, And For The Organizations With Which They Are Affiliated.” [Politico, 2/25/15] Politico: “Obtaining Details [From The State Department] On How The Approval Process Played Out In Practice Has Been Difficult And Slow.” “Doubts also remain about the transparency of the ethics deal. Obtaining details on how the approval process played out in practice has been difficult and slow. For nearly three years after POLITICO filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the records in late 2009, the State Department released no information. Heavily redacted documents began to emerge only after the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit in 2013. So far, the department has not committed to a date to produce all of the records.” [Politico, 2/25/15] Politico: Weeks After Hillary Clinton Became Secretary Of State, Bill Clinton “Sought Approval For Three, Three-Year Consulting Arrangements, Asking That State Department Ethics Officials Respond Within Five Days.” “Within weeks after Hillary Clinton took office, her husband’s office sought approval for three, three-year consulting arrangements, asking that State Department ethics officials respond within five days — a turnaround time referenced in the ethics deal. All three were with companies headed by longtime friends of the former president — Saban Capital Group, led by cartoon magnate Haim Saban; Shangri-La Industries, led by California investor Steve Bing; and Wasserman Investments, run by sports marketing and entertainment executive Casey Wasserman, son of Hollywood mogul Lew Wasserman.” [Politico, 2/25/15] Politico: “Part Of The Reason For Delayed Records Disclosure On The Vetting Process Is A Decision By State Department Officials To Seek Input From The Former President On Document Releases.” Part of the reason for delayed records disclosure on the vetting process is a decision by State Department officials to seek input from the former president on document releases. Hundreds of pages of material have been held up for ‘consultation’ under the terms of an executive order President Ronald Reagan signed in 1987 to protect ‘confidential commercial information.’” [Politico, 2/25/15] Wall Street Journal: “The Clinton Foundation Has Dropped Its Self-Imposed Ban On Collecting Funds From Foreign Governments And Is Winning Contributions At An Accelerating Rate.” “The Clinton Foundation has dropped its self-imposed ban on collecting funds from foreign governments and is winning contributions at an accelerating rate, raising ethical questions as Hillary Clinton ramps up her expected bid for the presidency.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15]

Wall Street Journal: “Recent Donors [To The Clinton Foundation] Include The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Australia, Germany And A Canadian Government Agency Promoting The Keystone XL Pipeline.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] 2009: Bill Clinton “Agreed To The Gift Ban At The Behest Of The Obama Administration, Which Worried About A Secretary Of State’s Husband Raising Millions While She Represented U.S. Interests Abroad.” “In 2009, the Clinton Foundation stopped raising money from foreign governments after Mrs. Clinton became secretary of state. Former President Bill Clinton, who ran the foundation while his wife was at the State Department, agreed to the gift ban at the behest of the Obama administration, which worried about a secretary of state’s husband raising millions while she represented U.S. interests abroad. The ban wasn’t absolute; some foreign government donations were permitted for ongoing programs approved by State Department ethics officials.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Wall Street Journal: Secretary Clinton “Has Become A Prodigious Fundraiser As The Foundation Launched A $250 Million Endowment Campaign.” “Since leaving the State Department in early 2013, Mrs. Clinton officially joined the foundation, which changed its name to the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, and has become a prodigious fundraiser as the foundation launched a $250 million endowment campaign, officials said.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Wall Street Journal: Clinton Foundation Projects “Aim To Do Such Things As Improve Education, Health Care And The Environment Around The World.” “A spokesman for the Clinton Foundation said the charity has a need to raise money for its many projects, which aim to do such things as improve education, health care and the environment around the world. He also said that donors go through a vigorous vetting process.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Wall Street Journal: Clinton Foundation Donors “Go Through A Vigorous Vetting Process.” “A spokesman for the Clinton Foundation said the charity has a need to raise money for its many projects, which aim to do such things as improve education, health care and the environment around the world. He also said that donors go through a vigorous vetting process.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Wall Street Journal: Canada’s Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Agency “A First-Time Donor, Gave Between $250,000 And $500,000” To The Clinton Foundation In 2014. “One of the 2014 donations comes from a Canadian agency promoting the proposed Keystone pipeline, which is favored by Republicans and under review by the Obama administration. The Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development agency of Canada, a first-time donor, gave between $250,000 and $500,000. The donations, which are disclosed voluntarily by the foundation, are given only in ranges.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Wall Street Journal: Canada’s Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Agency Was “Promoting The Proposed Keystone Pipeline” Though “The Canadian Donation Originated From An Agency Office Separate From The One That Advocates For Keystone XL.” “One of the 2014 donations comes from a Canadian agency promoting the proposed Keystone pipeline, which is favored by Republicans and under review by the Obama administration. The Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development agency of Canada…One of the agency’s priorities for 2014-2015 was to promote Keystone XL ‘as a stable and secure source of energy and energy technology,’ according to the agency’s website. The Canadian donation originated from an agency office separate from the one that advocates for Keystone XL, a Foundation spokesman said.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Markkula Center For Applied Ethics Director: “Now That She Is Gearing Up To Run…The Same Potential Exists For Foreign Governments To Curry Favor With Her As A Potential President Of The United States.” Kirk Hanson, director of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University in California, said the Clintons should immediately reimpose the ban, for the same reasons it was in place while Mrs. Clinton led U.S. foreign policy. ‘Now that she is gearing up to run for president, the same potential exists for foreign governments to curry favor with her as a potential president of the United States,’ he said. [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15]

Center For Congressional And Presidential Studies Director: “Whether It Influences Her Decision Making Is Questionable, But It Is A Legitimate Thing To Focus On By Her Political Opposition.” “James Thurber, director of American University’s Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies. ‘Whether it influences her decision making is questionable, but it is a legitimate thing to focus on by her political opposition.’” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Wall Street Journal: “At Least Four Foreign Countries Gave To The Foundation In 2013—Norway, Italy, Australia And The Netherlands—A Fact That Has Garnered Little Attention.” “At least four foreign countries gave to the foundation in 2013—Norway, Italy, Australia and the Netherlands—a fact that has garnered little attention. The number of governments contributing in 2014 appears to have doubled from the previous year. Since its founding, the foundation has raised at least $48 million from overseas governments, according to a Journal tally.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Wall Street Journal: “The Number Of Governments Contributing [To The Clinton Foundation] In 2014 Appears To Have Doubled From The Previous Year.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Wall Street Journal: “Since Its Founding, The [Clinton] Foundation Has Raised At Least $48 Million From Overseas Governments, According To A Journal Tally.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] First-Time Donor United Arab Emirates Gave The Clinton Foundation $1-5 Million In 2014. [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] First-Time Donor Germany Gave The Clinton Foundation $100,000-200,000 In 2014. [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Saudi Arabia Has Given The Clinton Foundation $10-25 Million Since 1999, Part Of Which Was Contributed In 2014. [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Australia Has Given The Clinton Foundation $5-10 Million Since 2013, Part Of Which Was Contributed In 2014. [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Wall Street Journal: “Qatar’s Government Committee Preparing For The 2022 Soccer World Cup Gave Between $250,000 And $500,000 In 2014…Qatar’s Government Had Previously Donated Between $1 Million And $5 Million.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Oman Has Given The Clinton Foundation $1-5 Million, Part Of Which Was Contributed In 2014. [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Wall Street Journal: “The Clinton Foundation Has Set A Goal Of Creating A $250 Million Endowment…[And] The Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates And Oman Donations Went To The Endowment Drive.” “The Clinton Foundation has set a goal of creating a $250 million endowment, an official said. One purpose was secure the future of the foundation’s programs without having to rely so much on the former president’s personal fundraising efforts, the official said. The Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Oman donations went to the endowment drive.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/17/15] Clinton Foundation: “Should Secretary Clinton Decide To Run For Office, We Will Continue To Ensure The Foundation's Policies And Practices Regarding Support From International Partners Are Appropriate, Just As We Did When She Served As Secretary Of State.” “Like other global charities, the Clinton Foundation receives support from individuals, organizations and governments from all over the world. Contributions are made because the Foundation's programs improve the lives of millions of people around the globe. The Clinton Foundation has a record of transparency that goes above what is required of U.S. charities. This includes the voluntary disclosure of contributions on the Foundation's website. Should Secretary Clinton decide to run for office, we will continue to ensure the Foundation's policies and practices regarding support from international partners are appropriate, just as we did when she served as Secretary of State.” [Clinton Foundation, 2/19/15]

Breitbart: “As Of 2008, The Clinton Foundation Raised At Least $46 Million From Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, And Other Foreign Governments–The Very Governments Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton Eventually Negotiated With.” “The nexus between Clinton Foundation donors, foreign governments, and corporate interests has long been a concern to government watchdog groups. As of 2008, the Clinton Foundation raised at least $46 million from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, and other foreign governments–the very governments Secretary of State Hillary Clinton eventually negotiated with. Wealthy foreign investors, like Saudi businessman Nasser Al-Rashid and Indian politician Amar Singh gave at least $1 million each.” [Breitbart, 8/14/13] Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel: “It’s Long Past Time To Drop The Fiction That The Clinton Foundation Has Ever Been A Charity.” “With the news this week that Mrs. Clinton—the would-be occupant of the White House—is landing tens of millions from foreign governments for her shop, it’s long past time to drop the fiction that the Clinton Foundation has ever been a charity. It’s a political shop.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/19/15] Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel: “Bill And Hillary Have Simply Done With The Foundation What They Did With Cattle Futures And Whitewater And The Lincoln Bedroom And Johnny Chung— They’ve Exploited The System.” “With the news this week that Mrs. Clinton—the would-be occupant of the White House—is landing tens of millions from foreign governments for her shop, it’s long past time to drop the fiction that the Clinton Foundation has ever been a charity. It’s a political shop. Bill and Hillary have simply done with the foundation what they did with cattle futures and Whitewater and the Lincoln Bedroom and Johnny Chung—they’ve exploited the system.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/19/15] Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel: “The Clinton Foundation Exists To Allow The Nation’s Most Powerful Couple To Use Their Not-So-Subtle Persuasion To Exact Global Tribute For A Fund That Promotes The Clintons.” “Most family charities exist to allow self-made Americans to disperse their good fortune to philanthropic causes. The Clinton Foundation exists to allow the nation’s most powerful couple to use their not-so-subtle persuasion to exact global tribute for a fund that promotes the Clintons.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/19/15] Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel: “Oh Sure, The Foundation Doles Out Grants For This And That Cause…But They Don’t Rank Next To The Annual Bill Clinton Show—The Clinton Global Initiative Event.” “Oh sure, the foundation doles out grants for this and that cause. But they don’t rank next to the annual Bill Clinton show—the Clinton Global Initiative event—to which he summons heads of state and basks for a media week as post-presidential statesman. This is an organization that in 2013 spent $8.5 million in travel expenses alone, ferrying the Clintons to headliner events. Those keep Mrs. Clinton in the news, which helps when you want to be president.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/19/15] Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel: Clinton Foundation Is “A Body That Exists To Keep The Clinton Political Team Intact In Between Elections, Working For The Clintons’ Political Benefit.” “It’s a body that exists to keep the Clinton political team intact in between elections, working for the Clintons’ political benefit. Only last week it came out that Dennis Cheng, who raised money for Mrs. Clinton’s 2008 bid, and then transitioned to the Clinton Foundation’s chief development officer, is now transitioning back to head up Mrs. Clinton’s 2016 fundraising operation. Mr. Cheng has scored $248 million for the foundation, and his Rolodex comes with him.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/19/15] Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel: “How Much Of These Employees’ Salaries, How Much Of Mrs. Clinton’s Travel, Was Funded By The Saudis? Or The United Arab Emirates, Or Oman, Or Any Of The Other Foreign Nations[?]” How much of these employees’ salaries, how much of Mrs. Clinton’s travel, was funded by the Saudis? Or the United Arab Emirates, or Oman, or any of the other foreign nations that The Wall Street Journal Tuesday reported have given millions to the foundation this past year? How many voters has Mrs. Clinton wooed, how many potential donors has she primed, how many influential people has she recruited for her campaign via the Clinton Foundation?” [Wall Street Journal, 2/19/15]

Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel: “We Can’t Know” If The Clinton Foundation Is Lying, While “Poor Jeb Bush Has To Abide By All Those Pesky Campaign-Finance Laws That Require Him To Disclose Exact Donor Names, And Dates And Amounts.” “How much of these employees’ salaries, how much of Mrs. Clinton’s travel, was funded by the Saudis? Or the United Arab Emirates, or Oman, or any of the other foreign nations that The Wall Street Journal Tuesday reported have given millions to the foundation this past year? How many voters has Mrs. Clinton wooed, how many potential donors has she primed, how many influential people has she recruited for her campaign via the Clinton Foundation? The foundation claims none, but that’s the other Clinton stroke of brilliance in using a charity as a campaign vehicle—we can’t know. Poor Jeb Bush has to abide by all those pesky campaign-finance laws that require him to disclose exact donor names, and dates and amounts. And that also bar contributions from foreign entities.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/19/15] Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel: Ban On Foreign Donations To Clinton Foundation “Wasn’t Absolute, And It Isn’t Clear It Encompassed Nonprofits Funded By Foreign Governments, Or Covered Wealthy Foreigners, Or Foreign Corporations.” “The foundation likes to note that it adopted self-imposed limits on foreign contributions during the period when Mrs. Clinton was at the State Department. Which is nice. Then again, that ban wasn’t absolute, and it isn’t clear it encompassed nonprofits funded by foreign governments, or covered wealthy foreigners, or foreign corporations. Nothing is clear. This is the Clintons. That’s how they like it.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/19/15] Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel: “This Is The Baseline Scandal Of The Clinton Foundation—It’s A Political Group That Gets To Operate Outside The Rules Imposed On Every Other Political Player.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/19/15] Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel: “It’s hard to label your GOP opponent anti-woman when the Clinton Foundation is funded by countries that bar women from voting and driving like Saudi Arabia.” “Democrats might nonetheless consider how big a liability this is for their potential nominee. It’s hard to label your GOP opponent anti-woman when the Clinton Foundation is funded by countries that bar women from voting and driving like Saudi Arabia.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/19/15] Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel: “It’s Hard To Call Your GOP Opponent A Heartless Capitalist— Out Of Tune With Middle-Class Anxieties—When You Owe Your Foundation’s Soul To Canadian Mining Magnates And Ethiopian Construction Billionaires.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/19/15] Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel: “It’s Hard To Claim You Will Fix A Burning World When You Owe Foundation Gratitude To Countries Holding The Fossil-Fuel Blowtorches.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/19/15] CLINTON FOUNDATION DONORS Associated Press On Clinton Foundation Donors: “Governments, Corporations And Billionaires With Their Own Interests In U.S. Foreign Policy Gave The Former President's Charity Millions Of Dollars.” “The world opened its wallet for Bill Clinton. Governments, corporations and billionaires with their own interests in U.S. foreign policy gave the former president's charity millions of dollars, according to records he released Thursday to lay bare any financial entanglements that could affect his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton as the next secretary of state.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Associated Press: As Of January 2009, “Saudi Arabia, Norway And Other Foreign Governments Gave At Least $46 Million” To The Clinton Foundation “And Donors With Ties To India Delivered Millions More.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Blackwater And Yahoo Both Donated To The Clinton Foundation. “Corporate donors included the Blackwater security firm, at risk of losing its lucrative government contract to protect U.S. diplomats in Iraq, and Web company Yahoo, involved in disputes over surrendering Internet information to Chinese authorities that led to the imprisonment of dissidents there.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09]

Associated Press: “President-Elect Barack Obama Made Hillary Clinton's Nomination As Secretary Of State Contingent On Her Husband Revealing The Foundation's Contributors, To Address Questions About Potential Conflicts Of Interest.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Associated Press: Clinton Foundation Disclosed Its Donors After “A Decade Of Resistance To Identifying Them” And “Did Not Identify Each Contributor's Occupation, Employer Or Nationality.” “The foundation disclosed the names of its 205,000 donors on its Web site Thursday, ending a decade of resistance to identifying them. It released only the names of donors and the range of their contributions. It did not identify each contributor's occupation, employer or nationality or provide any other details. The foundation said separately Thursday that fewer than 3,000 of its donors were foreigners but it did not identify which ones.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Associated Press: “Presidents Typically Do Not Release The Names Of Donors To Their Foundations, And…There Also Was No Legal Obligation For Them To Do So.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Foreign Government Donors To Clinton Foundation Included Saudi Arabia, Norway, Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, Italy, Jamaica, And Tenerife. “According to Clinton's list, Saudi Arabia gave $10 million to $25 million to the foundation. Other government donors include Norway, Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, Italy, Jamaica and Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The Dutch national lottery gave $5 million to $10 million.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Associated Press: “The Blackwater Training Center donated $10,001 to $25,000” To The Clinton Foundation. “The Blackwater Training Center donated $10,001 to $25,000. The State Department will have to decide next year whether to renew Blackwater Worldwide's contract to protect U.S. diplomats in Iraq. A U.S. grand jury has indicted five Blackwater guards on manslaughter and weapons charges stemming from a September 2007 firefight in Baghdad's Nisoor Square in which 17 Iraqis died.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Associated Press: Blackwater Spokeswoman: Blackwater Made Donation To Clinton Foundation “Long Before Senator Clinton Became The Secretary Of State-Designee.” “‘Blackwater frequently supports charitable organizations and we were honored to make a donation to this one, long before Senator Clinton became the Secretary of State-designee,’ said Blackwater spokeswoman Anne E. Tyrrell.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Associated Press: Indian Politician Amar Singh, Who Donated At Least $1 Million To Clinton Foundation, “Met Hillary Clinton In New York…To Discuss An India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement.” “The foundation's list also underscores ties between the Clintons and India, which could complicate diplomatic perceptions of whether Hillary Clinton can be a neutral broker between India and neighboring Pakistan in a region where Obama will face an early test of his foreign policy leadership. Tensions between the two nuclear nations are high since last month's deadly terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Amar Singh, a donor in the $1 million to $5 million category, is an Indian politician who played host to Bill Clinton on a visit to India in 2005 and met Hillary Clinton in New York in September to discuss an India- U.S. civil nuclear agreement.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Associated Press: Energy CEO Tulsi Tanti, Whose Company Donated At Least $1 Million To Clinton Foundation, “Announced Plans At Clinton's Global Initiative Meeting Earlier This Year For A $5 Billion Project To Develop Environmentally Friendly Power Generation In India And China.” “Amar Singh, a donor in the $1 million to $5 million category, is an Indian politician who played host to Bill Clinton on a visit to India in 2005 and met Hillary Clinton in New York in September to discuss an India- U.S. civil nuclear agreement. Also in that category was Suzlon Energy Ltd. of Amsterdam, a leading supplier of wind turbines. Its chairman is Tulsi R. Tanti, one of India's wealthiest executives. Tanti announced plans at Clinton's Global Initiative meeting earlier this year for a $5 billion project to develop environmentally friendly power generation in India and China.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09]

Associated Press: “Two Other Indian Interests Gave Between $500,000 And $1 Million Each… Ajit Gulabchand, Chairman Of The Hindustan Construction Co., Gave $250,000 To $500,000.” “Two other Indian interests gave between $500,000 and $1 million each: the Confederation of Indian Industry, an industrial trade association; and Dave Katragadda, an Indian capital manager with holdings in media and entertainment, technology, health care and financial services. Ajit Gulabchand, chairman of the Hindustan Construction Co., gave $250,000 to $500,000.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Australian And Dominican Government Agencies Each Gave Between $10 And $25 Million To The Clinton Foundation. “AUSAID, the Australian government's overseas aid program, and COPRESIDA- Secretariado Tecnico, a Dominican Republic government agency formed to fight AIDS, each gave $10 million to $25 million.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Billionaire Steel Executive Lakshmi Mittal Gave $1 Million To $5 Million To The Clinton Foundation. “The No. 4 person on the Forbes billionaire list, Lakshmi Mittal, the chief executive of international steel company ArcelorMittal, gave $1 million to $5 million. Mittal is a member of the Foreign Investment Council in Kazakhstan, Goldman Sachs' board of directors and the World Economic Forum's International Business Council, according to the biography on his corporate Web site.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Embattled Canadian Investor Victor Dahdaleh Gave $1 Million To $5 Million To The Clinton Foundation. “Victor P. Dahdaleh, who gave $1 million to $5 million, is a Canadian investor and philanthropist involved in aluminum production. His business ties have brought allegations of fraud and bribery in a lawsuit filed by a Bahrain aluminum company. The suit seeks more than $1 billion in damages for what it alleges is Dadaleh's involvement in questionable deals in the Middle East, and the Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the matter. Dahdaleh has vowed to vigorously contest the charges.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Associated Press: “Slim-Fast Diet Foods Tycoon S. Daniel Abraham” Gave $1 To $5 Million To The Clinton Foundation. “Slim-Fast diet foods tycoon S. Daniel Abraham, a donor of between $1 million and $5 million, has been a board member of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which promotes Israel's interests before the U.S. government.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09] Associated Press: When Then-Senator Clinton Became Secretary Of State, Bill Clinton Agreed To “Not Solicit Money Or Sponsorships” For The Clinton Global Initiative, Which Would “Cease Accepting Foreign Contributions.” “The former president agreed to step away from direct involvement in the Clinton Global Initiative, an annual charitable conference where businesses and many foreign governments pledge donations to help ameliorate AIDS, poverty and other social ills. He will continue serving as CGI's founding chairman but will not solicit money or sponsorships. The CGI will cease accepting foreign contributions and will not host events outside the United States.” [Associated Press, 1/18/09]