Reply #21: Bill Clinton Is Said to Agree to Release Names of Donors [View All]

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Bill Clinton Is Said to Agree to Release Names of Donors

By PETER BAKER
Published: November 29, 2008

CHICAGO – Former President Bill Clinton has agreed to disclose the names of more than 200,000 donors to his foundation as part of an agreement to clear the way for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to become secretary of state, two Democrats close to the process said Saturday night.

Mr. Clinton has kept his contributor list secret until now, as permitted under federal law, but he decided to release it to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest with Mrs. Clinton’s duties as America’s top diplomat, said the Democrats, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the agreement with President-elect Barack Obama’s team. Mr. Obama plans to announce Mrs. Clinton’s nomination Monday, according to advisers.

The contributor disclosure is one of nine conditions Mr. Clinton signed off on during discussions with representatives of Mr. Obama, all of which go beyond the requirements of law. Among other things, he also agreed to incorporate his Clinton Global Initiative separately from the foundation so that he has less direct involvement. The initiative would no longer hold annual meetings outside of the United States nor accept any new foreign government contributions.

For his own personal speeches and business activities, Mr. Clinton agreed to submit them first to State Department ethics officials and, if necessary, the White House counsel’s office for review.

Mr. Clinton’s extended web of business and philanthropic activities raised questions about how he could continue to travel the world soliciting multimillion-dollar contributions for his foundation and six-figure speaking fees for himself from foreign organizations and individuals while his wife conducted American foreign policy.

Lawyers for Mr. Clinton and Mr. Obama spent days crafting the agreement in hopes of addressing any concerns about his activities. Mr. Clinton said he would do whatever the Obama team asked to make it possible for his wife to serve without questions. Mr. Obama’s team was satisfied that the concessions he made should defuse any potential controversy.

Neither Mr. Obama’s office nor Mr. Clinton’s office would comment Saturday night.

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