"I know her. I do trust her frankly," former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says. | AP Photo Clinton ally Villaraigosa: 'They haven't enriched themselves from politics'

Neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton has "enriched themselves from politics," former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Thursday, while acknowledging that the Democratic nominee must act to make Americans see her as more honest and trustworthy.

Responding to a question about POLITICO's report Thursday that Bill Clinton used tax dollars to subsidize the Clinton Foundation and to fund his wife's private email server, Villaraigosa deferred to the campaign but suggested that Hillary Clinton's best approach to earn trust is through not only words, but actions.


"I know her. I do trust her frankly, and I do because they haven't enriched themselves from politics frankly," Villaraigosa told MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "What they have done, whether through the foundation or through their work in public service is help a whole lot of people. This is a woman who has spent her entire life investing in children. The Clinton foundation has done a lot of really good work. And so but clearly, as you mentioned, this is an issue. It's an issue for Donald Trump as well."

Panelist Willie Geist, seizing on Villaraigosa's claim that the Clintons have not "enriched themselves," remarked that the couple has done pretty well for themselves in the 15 years since they left the White House.

"Since they left the White House they have done well, but not as public servants," Villaraigosa responded. "You know, people do well after they leave office. But as I also said, clearly this is an issue they're going to have to address. And I don't think you address it just with words, you have to address it with actions as well. And I think Hillary knows that."