The Foundation's Shadiness Shows No Signs Of Slowing Down

TOP TAKEAWAYS

Today, the annual Clinton Global Initiative America will convene in Atlanta.
The Clinton Foundation has already proven to be a big problem for Clinton's 2016 run, posing never-ending ethical and legal questions about the celebrity-infused family charity that Bill and Hillary Clinton started.
Just last week, we learned that the Clinton State Department appointed a Clinton Foundation donor, with no qualifications, to a top government intelligence board.
Team Clinton has been forced to confront questions from her tenure as Secretary of State about inappropriate use of funds, conflicts of interest and transparency gaps that have sent the campaign off message.
As questions swirl, the Clintons refuse to explain what role Bill Clinton would play should she be elected, and if any meaningful safeguards will exist to create a multi-billion dollar slush fund for one of the most ethically challenged duos in American politics.

Today, The Clinton Global Initiative America Meeting Will Convene In Atlanta, GA. "The sixth annual Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) America meeting will be held June 12-14, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. CGI is pleased to announce new programming and participants in this year's meeting, including President Jimmy Carter who will join President Bill Clinton in a special one-on-one conversation." (Clinton Global Initiative America, Accessed 6/9/16)
CGI, Specifically, Has Become A "Particularly Thorny Subject For The Clintons"

The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), Which Seeks Commitments From Corporations, "Has Become A Particularly Thorny Subject For The Clintons." "CGI, which seeks commitments from corporations, other non-profits and governments around the world to tackle problems ranging from childhood obesity to Ebola, has become a particularly thorny subject for the Clintons." (Ken Vogel, "Clinton Foundation Of Collision Course With Campaign," Politico, 1/28/16)

CGI Has Come Under Attack For "Accepting Huge Donations From Foreign Governments And Other Entities That Had Business Before The State Department During Hillary Clinton's Tenure As Secretary Of State." "It became a target of GOP attacks for accepting huge donations from foreign governments and other entities that had business before the State Department during Hillary Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State." (Ken Vogel, "Clinton Foundation Of Collision Course With Campaign," Politico, 1/28/16)

"One Of The Reasons That The Clinton Foundation Has Become Such A Formidable Fund-Raising Machine Is That Donors Appear To Hope To Gain Access To The Corridors Of Political Power With Their Gifts." ("Why The Clinton Foundation Is So Controversial," The Economist, 2/7/16)

The Problem With The Clinton Foundation Is It Appears "Vulnerable To Conflicts Of Interest." "The problem is that a foundation, which is led by an ex-president and someone who hopes to be elected president by the end of the year, can appear vulnerable to conflicts of interest." ("Why The Clinton Foundation Is So Controversial," The Economist, 2/7/16)

THE FOUNDATION HAS ALREADY CAUSED MAJOR HEADACHES FOR CLINTON'S 2016 RUN

The Associated Press Headline: "Hillary Clinton's Family Foundation May Pose Significant Campaign Risks" (Ken Thomas, "Hillary Clinton's Family Foundation May Pose Significant Campaign Risks," The Associated Press , 2/22/15)

The Calculus At The Clinton Foundation "Has Started To Change," As Clinton's Presidential Campaign Moved Forward And GCI "Became Embroiled In Political Controversy." " The calculus has started to change, foundation sources say, as the foundation raised a $250-million endowment to sustain itself during Hillary Clinton's campaign and potential presidency, and as CGI became embroiled in political controversy." (Ken Vogel, "Clinton Foundation Of Collision Course With Campaign," Politico, 1/28/16)
Dragging Her Painfully Off-Message, Clinton Has Repeatedly Been Forced To Answer Questions About Controversies Surrounding The Foundation

In March, Clinton Was Pressed On Whether Or Not The Foundation Should Be "Wound Down" While She Runs For President For "Ethical" Reasons. MSNBC'S RACHEL MADDOW: "Let me ask you one-- last question. Which I'm asking in part because we're here in New York. Which is-- the headquarters of The Clinton Foundation, and The Clinton Global Initiative. Is there a case to be made, an ethical case to be made that The Clinton Foundation and the Global Initiative should essentially be wound down as a family foundation while you run for president? I ask that because I think about the-- the good works, the good charitable works that The Clinton Foundation has done. But the way that some of that work gets done is by soliciting donations from people in this country, from people around the world, from organizations around the world. I think it is not unreasonable to suspect that people may give donations to The Clinton Foundation hoping that they will favorably influence your opinion toward them, as a presidential candidate, or eventually as president if you're elected. Is there an ethical concern there that there should be essentially-- a split between you and your family, (COUGH) and-- and-- and this foundation, that has done good work? But now you're in a different position-- with regard to potential donors." CLINTON: "Well, look, I-- I think that-- the work that it's done has been extraordinary. And I give the credit to my husband and my daughter, because I haven't been involved-- for that long. And, you know, when I look at what they've accomplished, and what they've been able to amplify in terms of saving lives-- by getting the price of drugs for HIV/AIDS down in sub-Saharan Africa. It's quite astonishing. And I would hate to lose that creativity, that imagination, that-- extraordinary flexibility. So, I think the answer is transparency. And there is no doubt that there will be-- complete transparency about-- donations. But when you have hundreds of thousands of people who are donating-- as they do-- I think that-- the best-- answer for that is what we have been doing for the last several years. And that is-- to be transparent about it. And let-- you know, let voters and others make their judgment." (MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show," 3/30/16)