Nearly 60,000 opponents of the Keystone XL pipeline are urging Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhat Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Trump carries on with rally, unaware of Ginsburg's death MORE to avoid a "conflict of interest" for her impending presidential bid and return Clinton Foundation donations from foreign governments.

"Rejection of the tar sands pipeline by President Obama is looking more likely every day. So you can bet foreign oil companies are setting their sights on the next president of the United States hoping for approval in two years," the liberal group CREDO Action says on its website.

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The petition urges Hillary Clinton to "immediately return Clinton Foundation contributions from foreign governments. These contributions create a clear and unnecessary conflict of interest as you prepare to run for President."

Critics from across political ideologies have questioned the foundation's acceptance of foreign funds. The U.S. bars candidates from accepting foreign money.

Both Bill and Hillary Clinton have within the past week defended the donations, which have raised questions since The Wall Street Journal reported last month the foundation dropped its self-imposed ban, put in place during Clinton's tenure as secretary of State.

The Canadian government agency pushing for U.S. approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline donated between $250,000 and $500,000 to the Clinton group last year, according to the Journal, which noted that the State Department's initial environmental impact report on Keystone came during Clinton's time as secretary.

Several Middle Eastern countries have also donated millions of dollars to the foundation.

Over the weekend, Bill Clinton said the foundation has "done a lot more good than harm." Hillary Clinton similarly defended the foundation during her Tuesday press conference at the United Nations when asked about donations from countries that treat women poorly amid questions over her private email use.

"There can't be any mistake about my passion concerning women's rights here at home and around the world," she said. "I think that people who want to support the foundation know full well what it is we stand for and what we're working on."