Rep. Waxman On Contributions To Presidential Foundations: “The Vast Scale Of These Secret Fund-Raising Operations Presents Enormous Opportunities For Abuse.” “To limit the influence of any single donor, federal election law prohibits foreign donations to presidential campaigns and limits Americans to $2,300 per election. But presidential foundations are free to accept unlimited and anonymous contributions, even from foreigners and foreign governments…‘The vast scale of these secret fund-raising operations presents enormous opportunities for abuse,’ said Representative Henry A. Waxman, Democrat of California, who introduced a bill to force disclosure of presidential foundation donors. The bill passed the House, 390-34, in March but stalled in the Senate.” [New York Times, 12/20/07] New York Times: Some Donors To The Clinton Library In The Final Year Of Bill Clinton’s Administration “Were Seeking Policy Changes From The Administration.” “The New York Times has compiled the first comprehensive list of 97 donors who gave or pledged a total of $69 million for the Clinton presidential library in the final years of the Clinton administration. The examination found that while some $1 million contributors were longtime Clinton friends, others were seeking policy changes from the administration. Two pledged $1 million each while they or their companies were under investigation by the Justice Department.” [New York Times, 12/20/07] New York Times: “Mrs. Clinton Played An Important Role In Shaping Both The Foundation’s Organization And The Scope Of Its Work… Advisers Also Were Acutely Aware That The Foundation’s Operations — And Any Perception Of A Conflict — Could Harm Mrs. Clinton Politically.” “Mrs. Clinton played an important role in shaping both the foundation’s organization and the scope of its work, said Karen A. Tramontano, a senior adviser in the Clinton White House and the foundation’s first chief of staff. Advisers also were acutely aware that the foundation’s operations — and any perception of a conflict — could harm Mrs. Clinton politically. ‘She and I would speak frequently,’ Ms. Tramontano said. ‘She had a lot of ideas. All the papers that went to him went to her.’” [New York Times, 12/20/07] CLINTON DEFENDERS CITED HILLARY’S SEPARATION FROM THE FOUNDATION, THE CHARITABLE WORK OF HER HUSBAND, HER EFFORTS TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY IN POST-PRESIDENTIAL FUNDRAISING, AND THE FUNDRAISING OF FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH Washington Post: “[George H.W.] Bush's Large Foreign Donors Include Kuwait, Japan, Oman And The United Arab Emirates…The Family Of Bandar Bin Sultan, Former Saudi Ambassador To The United States, Contributed $1 Million Or More.” [Washington Post, 12/15/07] Clinton Foundation: “As President, [Bill Clinton] Was Beloved Around The World, So It Should Come As No Surprise That There Has Been An Outpouring Of Financial Support From Around The World To Sustain His Post-Presidential Work.” “In response to questions from The Washington Post, the foundation reiterated that it would not discuss specific sizes or sources of donations to honor the commitment it made to donors. But it acknowledged that some of the money Clinton received from the library came from foreign sources. ‘As president, he was beloved around the world, so it should come as no surprise that there has been an outpouring of financial support from around the world to sustain his post-presidential work,’ a foundation statement said.” [Washington Post, 12/14/07] Hillary Clinton Campaign Spokesman: “Senator Clinton Is Not Involved In The Fund-Raising Or Operations Of The Clinton Foundation.” [New York Times, 12/20/07] New York Times: 2001, “Mrs. Clinton Co-Sponsored Legislation To Publicly Identify Donors To Foundations Of Future Sitting Presidents.” [New York Times, 12/20/07] CLINTON FOUNDATION AND CHARTER TRAVEL