Maybe better late than never, but the real question is: why now? While Hillary’s political career may be finished, more trouble looms over her head. Currently, no Clintons are serving in politics. This would seem like the perfect time for the corrupt Clinton Foundation to dig deeper into its dirty work. And yet, their doors are closing. The Clinton Foundation was the source of many of the accusations during the election. It was among the problems that she faced and repeatedly denied. She and Bill have always maintained that the Foundation is a clean charity, doing good work, and most importantly, not involved with her politics.
The Foundation was a source of concern for everyone though, the Clintons included even if they wouldn’t say it. Much of the money came from foreign governments including ones that were not openly supportive of the U.S. Some of the generous “donations” given to the charity:
Norway – $2.8M per year Algeria – $500,000 Saudi Arabia – Between $10 million and $25 million. United Arab Emirates – Between $1 million and $5 million in 2014 Germany – Between $100,000 and $250,000. Qatar’s – Between $250,000 and $500,000 in 2014. Previously donated between $1 million and $5 million
The incoming money had begun to drop even before Hillary began her doomed presidential campaign. According to tax filings, contributions fell by 37%. In 2014 they claimed $172 million in donations and in 2015 it was down to $108 million.
By the time the annual conference was held by Clinton Global Initiative in 2015, many donors were jumping ship. The fleeing contributors included ExxonMobil and Samsung. It appears that more public companies were distancing themselves. This might have had to do with the scandals that were beginning to surround the whole Clinton family.
In 2013, the Foundation had undergone some changes in leadership. Chelsea Clinton took a more active role in the organization and the group was renamed the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation.
Chelsea brought in a friend, Eric Braverman, to run the group. He ended up clashing with Bruce Lindsey who was a senior adviser in the Clinton administration. Lindsey had previously been CEO and then became board chairman.
Braverman departed in January 2015 after 18 months, receiving a $330,000 payout, according to the tax filings. Donna Shalala replaced him.
When Hillary lost the election, we would have expected to see her shift focus towards the family organization. There could be no more accusations of conflicts of interests but there was also no more influence. If foreign governments were giving money to gain the political power that the Clinton name could provide, that was no longer an option. No influence, no money.
Now, if the Clinton Global Initiative was truly “to deal with the challenges of global interdependence” as its founders claim, there is still much to be done. There are millions in need of help but apparently the philanthropic Clintons have something better to do.
There is no doubt that the Clinton Foundation did some charity work. After all, they needed a cover that gullible liberals could support. But if charity was their main goal, they would be maintaining the foundation and carrying on that work.
One of the scandals involving the Foundation was the WikiLeaks emails indicating that the organization was nothing more than a fortune gathering by Bill. The Foundation was even nicknamed “Bill Clinton Inc.”
The memo from [top Clinton aide and Clinton Foundation employee] Douglas Band, made public Wednesday by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, lays out the aggressive strategy behind lining up the consulting contracts and paid speaking engagements for Bill Clinton. These added tens of millions of dollars to the family’s fortune, including during the years that Hillary Clinton led the State Department.
All that appears to be coming to an end as the Clinton Global Initiative in New York has given notice to its final 22 employees. Once numbering more than 200, the staff had already been reduced a couple of times. Ironically, the final layoffs will take place on Tax Day.
The Initiative is saying this shutting down began taking place before the election in order to prevent a conflict of interest. If that were the real reason then losing the election would pave the way to back off the closing down and revitalize the charity. The fact that it hasn’t is a good indication that something deeper is happening.
As the Initiative finally closes in April, there will then be questions regarding the rest of the Clinton Foundation. Without political influence, will it fold as well?
There is little doubt that this closing is confirmation of what we have always suspected, the Initiative was not much more than a political pay for play scheme. Since the Clintons cannot offer anything, governments are taking their money elsewhere.
With a Republican government, the Clintons and their corruption should continue to be a target of investigation. Democratic politicians have helped shield the family and their charity for years but the end is near.
A new government, a new President, a new year will all combine to help rid America of our Clinton Family pest problem.
Poster Comment:
Geeee, I wonder why? Sarcasm aside, is their corruption pit bottomless or what? Will an investigation be launched before they burn all incriminating evidence??