Clinton Foundation to review overseas donations … if she runs

The Clinton Foundation will reconsider its policy of accepting new donations from foreign governments if Hillary Clinton runs for president as expected, the organization said on Thursday after two days of controversy over its funding from international sources.

The group faced fire from Republicans urging it to return foreign funds following a Tuesday Wall Street Journal report that the foundation had abandoned its near-prohibition of raising new money from other governments, an approach that had been in place during Clinton’s time in the State Department. While Thursday’s statement did not commit the foundation to reinstituting the policy, it specifically invoked the likely candidate’s tenure as secretary of state.


Following the initial report, Clinton foes quickly questioned the ethics of a potential president accepting money from other countries’ governments, even if it is through a philanthropic foundation. The criticism reflected a widespread Republican belief — and Democratic fear — that the foundation could cause Clinton serious political damage in 2016.

“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,” the organization said.

The original Journal article noted that the foundation had taken money from a handful of foreign governments since 2013, including between $1 million and $5 million from the United Arab Emirates in 2014. Republican groups pounced on the disclosure, suggesting that such countries might receive special treatment if Clinton were to become president.

The foundation defended its fundraising strategy on Thursday: “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,” it said.

The group, which was started by former President Bill Clinton, stopped actively soliciting new donations from foreign governments and started vetting increases in existing donations when Hillary Clinton became secretary of state in 2009. The organization was renamed the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation in 2013, and Hillary Clinton has frequently appeared at its events across the country while she has been preparing for her all-but-certain presidential campaign.