FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

According to reports, the failed Democratic nominee's US-based charity received the cash to help plant trees in Africa at exactly the time she declared Angela Merkel her "favourite" politician. But the revelation of the financing arangment has been met with scorn. In October, around the same time the transaction was made, it was revealed that Mrs Clinton said the German Chancellor was one of her "favourites" when asked about who she admired in global politics.

GETTY Mrs Merkel and Mrs Clinton met a number of times over the years

GETTY Mrs Merkel, Mrs Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden share a toast

One of my favourites is Angela Merkel because I think she’s been an extraordinary Hillary Clinton

Mrs Clinton said on board her plane: “One of my favourites is Angela Merkel because I think she’s been an extraordinary, strong leader during difficult times in Europe, which has obvious implications for the rest of the world and, most particularly, our country. “And I hope I’ll have the opportunity to work with her in the future." The Clinton Foundation has been the subject of much controversy since the publishing of a top selling book “Clinton Cash”, by author Peter Schweizer.

GETTY Mrs Clinton has been a fan of Mrs Merkel's policies for years

According to reports the tome alleges foreign groups and governments gave money to Mrs Clinton's charity in return for access to the State Department while she was Secretary of State. Now eyebrows are being raised after it was revealed German taxpayers handed over millions in the third quarter of the year, during the period Mrs Clinton was running for President – while at the same time being investigated by the FBI. And it has been claimed the foundation's donors list shows the Federal Ministry of the Environment had made the transaction.

GETTY Former President Bill Clinton also met Mrs Merkel

German politician Vera Lengsfeld, of Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Unionist Party, said there are serious questions to answer. Ms Lengsfeld, the daughter of an East German secret police officer, wrote in her blog: "Why does a federal ministry support the election campaign of an American presidential candidate? "Apparently German taxpayers had to finance Hillary Clinton's election campaign without knowing it."

GETTY Mrs Merkel gave Mrs Clinton an award in 2005

The German Federal Ministry for the Environment has denied that the donation was linked to the election. It confirmed the transaction took place and insisted the money was to provide "financing under the International Climate Protection Initiative (ICI)". The ministry also claimed the public funds served to "support forestry and landscape renaturation in East Africa". German taxpayers are also funding Clinton Foundation projects that involve the "restoration of forest ecosystems" in India, Kenya, El Salvador, Mexico, Vietnam, Uganda and Peru – according to reports.

Hillary Clinton in pictures Mon, April 3, 2017 The extraordinary life of Hillary Clinton through pictures Play slideshow 1 of 40