The Front Page Cover
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened"
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Featuring:
The Kickback Kids
Peter Schweizer’s new book documents the Clintons’ disturbing financial dealings
Nicole Gelinas
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"Rise up together as one voice"
"Be careful where you stand"
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'Dead Broke'? Hardly 
Last year, Hilly Clinton bemoaned her impoverished state upon leaving the White House at the end of Bill's second term. "[W]e came out of the White House not only dead broke but in debt," she lamented. "We had no money when we got there and we struggled to, you know, piece together the resources for mortgages for houses, for Chelsea's education — you know, it was not easy." Even if that were completely true, they didn't waste much time winning, as Barack nObama recently put it, "society's lottery." The Associated Press reports, "Hilly Rodham Clinton and former President Bill Clinton reported Friday that they earned more than $30 million combined in speaking fees and book royalties since January 2014." That's more than $1 million per month. Nice work if you can get it. Bill justifies it all, saying, "I gotta pay our bills" — they did pay off a mortgage of up to $5 million — and that he gives most of his income to the Clinton Foundation anyway. Never mind that the Foundation's pay-to-play setup is grossly corrupt. Meanwhile, Hilly complained in Iowa, "There's something wrong when CEOs make 300 times more than the American worker." She might not be the best messenger for that one. -The Patriot Post
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A Bloody Weekend in Chicago and Baltimore
In what has become an all-too familiar story, more blood was spilled on the streets of Chicago over the weekend after a barrage of shootings claimed nearly 50 victims, two of whom succumbed to their injuries, according to the latest available data. The Chicago Tribune reports that felonious shootings were already up 22% compared to 2014 before this latest episode: "Through May 10, there were 627 shooting incidents, up from 516 for the same year-earlier period, the police department said. Last year saw shooting incidents rise to 2,084, up nearly 12 percent from 1,866 in 2013." In all, 49 residents were shot between Friday afternoon and Monday morning, and at least one of the victims was a 14-year-old. Even more sadly, the escalation in violence is not confined to Chicago. According to The Baltimore Sun, four more people also were murdered in Freddie Gray's hometown over the weekend. All told, "At least 87 people have been killed in Baltimore this year, 22 more than at this time last year," the Sun reported. "Nonfatal shootings are up nearly 50 percent across the city." Both of these cities, and other megalopolises for that matter, have two identical themes: tight gun control laws, and deep-rooted poverty. But as we've seen over and over again, no number of laws on the books will alleviate the broader symptoms that culminate in lethal urban mayhem. -The Patriot Post
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Judge Halts DC's Rule Requiring Justification for 2A Rights
The courts may have forced the District of Columbia to recognize its citizens' right to keep and bear arms, but the city did all it could to restrict the number of firearms. When journalist Emily Miller tried to get a gun in February, she was told she was only the 16th person the city deemed had a "good reason" to carry a handgun — probably because she was a journalist writing about the topic. On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the city to stop enforcing the rule making citizens justify their rights, saying it violated the Second Amendment. "The District of Columbia's arbitrary 'good reason'/'proper reason' requirement ... goes far beyond establishing such reasonable restrictions," the court wrote in the ruling. "Rather, for all intents and purposes, this requirement makes it impossible for the overwhelming majority of law-abiding citizens to obtain licenses to carry handguns in public for self-defense, thereby depriving them of their Second Amendment right to bear arms." The fight's not over, though. The city is expected to appeal, and the issue of DC's gun laws could end up at the Supreme Court once again. More... -The Patriot Post
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Gov. Jindal Takes Action on Religious Freedom
Last month, Louisiana began debating a Religious Freedom Restoration Act, similar to the ones that caused so much uproar in Indiana and Arkansas. Lawmakers were tiptoeing around the law, however, because of its optics. Everyone from the state's big businesses to the tourism industry opposed the bill at its public hearing because they alleged it would sanction discrimination against homosexuals. Four weeks later and the bill is good as dead after a Louisiana House committee rejected it 10-2. In response, Gov. Bobby Jindal — who is considering a presidential bid that would appeal to conservative Christians— announced he would go it alone and issue a truncated version of the bill as an executive order. The order would ensure that individuals who believe marriage is between one man and one woman would not lose tax exempt statuses, professional licenses or employment over their beliefs. It's "not about discrimination. It's about the First Amendment," Jindal said. While it's commendable for Jindal to stand while Louisiana's lawmakers cower, it's worrisome that he's essentially using Barack nObama's tactics in pressing change. More... -The Patriot Post
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BSA Water Gun Ban — Because 'Pointing a Firearm' Isn't Kind
The Boy Scouts of America have been dealing with political correctness for years, though in the past it has been with weighty subjects such as homosexual leaders and scouts. This time, it's not nearly so serious, but it's absurd all the same. Boy Scout blogger Bryan Wendell writes, "As summer — and pool weather! — lingers on the horizon, it's a good time to remind you that BSA policies prohibit pointing simulated firearms at people. Yes, that includes water guns." And he's actually serious. According to the 2015 Boy Scouts of America National Shooting Sports Manual, "Water guns and rubber band guns must only be used to shoot at targets, and eye protection must be worn." Fine, safety first and all. Wouldn't want a Scout hit in the eye with a rubber band. But Wendell goes on to explain, "Why the rule? A Scouter once told me this explanation I liked quite a bit: A Scout is kind. What part of pointing a firearm [simulated or otherwise] at someone is kind?" So now we're going to raise a generation of Scouts to be scared of water guns. What red-blooded American boy hasn't enjoyed the heck out of a water gun fight? Well, now the Boy Scout variety, that's who. -The Patriot Post
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Trey Gowdy Goes Off at Community Policing Hearing
(http://gopthedailydose.com/) - Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) went off during the House hearing today on Community Policing... Gowdy read off a list of police officers killed in the line of duty and victims of intra-racial murder. The House Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on how police interact with the communities they serve, the training they receive, and rules and regulations that affect local law enforcement.
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Trojan Burro – Republicans Claiming To Be Conservatives
(rickwells.us) - Leftists pretending to be conservatives or attaching a Republican label to themselves in order to co-opt and infiltrate the conservative ranks is a serious problem... Establishment RINOs such as Sen Mitch McCon-nell (R-KY), Sen John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and the dangerously desperate Sen Ron Johnson (R-WI) in the Senate as well as the likes of Rep backstabber John Boehner (R-OH) and Paul Ryan (R-WI) in the House are leaving Americans with little more than a two-headed, single party serpent. The goal is to dilute and derail conservative and patriotic action and it is effective. Conservative Americans find themselves with very little representation within our government, aside from the fortunate few who happen to be both conservative and wealthy enough to rent a representatives ear and interest. The rest of us are simply reduced to being spectators. http://rickwells.us/trojan-burro-republicans-claiming-to-be-conservatives-dilute-anti-amnesty-secure-borders-message/
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Islamists and the Gay Lobby: Birds of a Feather...
(Tim Brown) - We've been reporting on the push by Islamists in Texas against an anti-foreign laws bill that would render Shariah in America impotent (as though it actually needed such legislation)... Angry Muslims voiced their opinions against such bills after the establishment of a Shariah tribunal in Texas back in January (a tribunal that was formed with deceptive "judges" claiming to be "attorneys.") However, Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne had become a heroine of sorts in putting her foot down to Islamists who seek to bring in Islamic law to Texas and she said that she won't be deterred nor bullied. This became the subject of The Sons of Liberty Radio show on Monday. Show host Bradlee Dean exposed exactly what Islam is about in America. It's about the same thing that the militant sodomites are about here, mainly upending America's laws and sovereignty. http://eaglerising.com/18693/islamists-and-the-gay-lobby-birds-of-a-feather/
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Fatah's Armed Militias Warn Israelis: "You Must Leave!"
(Khaled Abu Toameh) - Many in the international community often refer to the Palestinian Fatah faction, which is headed by Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, as a "moderate" group that believes in Israel's right to exist and the two-state solution... What these people do not know is that Fatah, the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), consists of several groups that hold different views than those expressed by Abbas and other English-speaking Fatah officials. Some of these Fatah groups do not believe in Israel's right to exist and continue to talk about the "armed struggle" as the only way to "liberate Palestine and restore Palestinian national rights." One of these groups is called The Aqsa Martyrs Brigade - El Amoudi Brigade. http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/5785/fatah-militias
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Hilly Clinton Supporters Actually Don't Support Hilly
(http://iotwreport.com) - Youtube has just demonetized our video that is going viral criticizing Hilly Clinton supporters... They have given no explanation or justification for this action. This is a clear sign of censorship by google who is favoring Hillary Clinton to be our next president in 2016.
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hanoi Kerry and Putin Talk
(Herbert London) - Secretary of State hanoi John Kerry and Russian President Vladimir Putin met recently in what they euphemistically described as a kumbaya moment... Presumably there was a pledge to work together to resolve crises in Syria and the Ukraine, Secretary hanoi Kerry said neither side was seeking a “major breakthrough,” but instead they seek to keep “communications open,” this is “diplospeak” for resolution isn’t in the cards. Before meeting with hanoi Kerry, Putin called for a continued buildup of Russian forces. He also contends that Russia should “retool its military industry to replace foreign suppliers…” If there was concession on Putin’s part, it is “continued talks.” Of course, there was consensus on one issue: unity on Tehran’s nuclear program. Mr. hanoi Kerry was expected to express opposition to the advanced S-300 air defense system the Russians sold to Iran, but didn’t. Since the sale was completed any objection would be meaningless at this point, albeit this gesture might have assuaged the Israeli government. What hanoi Kerry did discuss was the role of the Soviet Union in defeating Nazi Germany seventy years after the war’s end. Waste of money and time not getting to the issues. http://www.aim.org/guest-column/kerry-and-putin-talk/?utm_source=AIM+-+Daily+Email&utm_campaign=email052015&utm_medium=email
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Soros And nObama Late On The Ferguson Protester Paychecks
(rickwells.us) - The America Hating mega-rich guy George Soros has been funding the Ferguson protests, probably Baltimore and New York as well, furthering the Marxist cause in conjunction with his comrades Hussein nObama and Eric Holder... The money trail leads directly to him and his communist front groups, a fact that is now being exposed by some of those who are being cheated out of money they claim to have been promised in exchange for acting like a anarchistic barbarians. Just as it appeared and was suspected, these outsiders are coordinated, managed and dispatched by anti-American organizations. There is no grassroots, bottom up movement or protest. There are bottom level rabble-rousers and upper level financial enablers, who have a stake in creating chaos. They are tools in the attack on our nation by George Soros and others who are working to destroy America. http://rickwells.us/soros-and-obama-late-on-the-ferguson-protester-paychecks-what-do-they-do-protest-naturally/
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Evidence Is Conclusive nObama And Hilly Be Indicted for TREASON
(Walid Shoebat) - Judicial Watch announced today that it "obtained more than 100 pages of previously classified "Secret" documents from the Department of Defense (DOD)and the Department of State, revealing that DOD almost immediately reported that the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi... was committed by the al Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood-linked "Brigades of the Captive Omar Abdul Rahman" (BCOAR), and had been planned at least 10 days in advance." Judicial Watch added what has been proven and obvious for years—that "Benghazi attack" was "not about a response to an anti-Muhammad video" or was it "the protests at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo" and that A Defense Department document dated September 12, 2012, the day after the Benghazi attack, details that the attack on "the compound had been carefully planned by the BOCAR terrorist group" "to kill as many Americans as possible." http://freedomoutpost.com/2015/05/evidence-now-is-conclusive-that-obama-and-hillary-should-be-indicted-and-put-on-trial-for-treason/
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nObama Slipping No Immigration Enforcement Finishing Touches...
(rickwells.us) - As nObama takes over and dictatorially federalizes local police forces he’s creating new regulations in the process. Sheriff Paul Babeu of Pinal County, Arizona is sounding analarm over something that has been included in his latest declaration... more immunity from prosecution for violating immigration law for illegals. Babeu describes them as the “finishing touches” of nObama’s no enforcement of immigration law policy. He cites the federal report as recommending the “decoupling” of local law enforcement from the federal agencies charged with immigration enforcement. In essence, it marks the end of cooperation between local officers in possession of illegal immigration violators and those who are charged with removing them from our nation. Babeu argues that it is effectively the end of criminals being deported. http://rickwells.us/sheriff-babeu-obama-slipping-no-immigration-enforcement-finishing-touches-into-police-policies/
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Communist icon lets cat out of bag on U.S. 'refugees'
(Leo Hohmann) - University professor and former Communist Party USA leader Angela Davis said in an interview that the refugee movement “is the movement of the 21st century” for radicals such as herself... The 1960s’ queen of counter-culture activism was filmed walking through the streets of Berlin, Germany, during a May 14-15 visit listening to the problems encountered by African refugees living in the city. Many have been squatting in a former school since December 2012, but Davis was not allowed in, so she talked with refugee activists outside the front gate. International Women Space, a left-of-center group, posted the video on Vimeo, showing the refugees voicing concerns about the German government with regard to their “demands for a school to be transformed into a community center for refugees,” Davis said. The refugee activists told Davis of their demands for better health care, housing and food. http://www.wnd.com/2015/05/communist-icon-lets-cat-out-of-bag-on-u-s-refugees/
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The Kickback Kids
Peter Schweizer’s new book documents the Clintons’ disturbing financial dealings
Nicole Gelinas
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(city-journal.org) - George Washington Plunkitt, a late- nineteenth-century New York State legislator, made his extra money in a straightforward way. “I seen my opportunities and I took ‘em,” he said after people criticized him for patronage, corrupt land sales, and other business-as-usual Tammany Hall goings-on. But Plunkitt distinguished between “honest graft” and the regular kind. It was okay to steal if the stealing was part of a project for the public good—taking a kickback on, say, building a firehouse. By contrast, it wouldn’t be okay to steal at the expense of the public—say, taking a bribe from someone selling poisonous medicine. Bill and Hilly Clinton are good students of Plunkitt’s first lesson, according to Peter Schweizer’s new bestseller, Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hilly Rich. Since Bill left the presidency, the Clintons seen a lot of opportunities—and took ‘em all..
Last year, Hilly confessed her and her husband’s chief motive over the 14 years since they left the White House: money. She told Diane Sawyer that the family was “dead broke” in 2001 when Bill’s presidency ended. In the White House, she said, “we struggled to, you know, piece together the resources for mortgages, for houses,” and for daughter Chelsea to begin attaining her four college degrees. After the White House years, “you know, it was not easy. Bill has worked really hard . . . . He had to make double the money because of, obviously, taxes . . . and get us houses and take care of family members.”
Last year, Hilly confessed her and her husband’s chief motive over the 14 years since they left the White House: money. She told Diane Sawyer that the family was “dead broke” in 2001 when Bill’s presidency ended. In the White House, she said, “we struggled to, you know, piece together the resources for mortgages, for houses,” and for daughter Chelsea to begin attaining her four college degrees. After the White House years, “you know, it was not easy. Bill has worked really hard . . . . He had to make double the money because of, obviously, taxes . . . and get us houses and take care of family members.”
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Looking for a way to stay on top, the Clintons perfected a modern private-public business model: the Clinton Foundation, a charity with the noble-sounding goals of making people around the world healthier and of slowing global climate change. Running a charity, much less a charity operating in Africa, South America, and other global trouble spots, is complicated work, and the Clintons had no experience. No matter: hundreds of millions of dollars poured in. Donors gave to the foundation itself and to Bill directly for making speeches. Between 2001 and 2012, Bill made $105.5 million in such speeches.
Looking for a way to stay on top, the Clintons perfected a modern private-public business model: the Clinton Foundation, a charity with the noble-sounding goals of making people around the world healthier and of slowing global climate change. Running a charity, much less a charity operating in Africa, South America, and other global trouble spots, is complicated work, and the Clintons had no experience. No matter: hundreds of millions of dollars poured in. Donors gave to the foundation itself and to Bill directly for making speeches. Between 2001 and 2012, Bill made $105.5 million in such speeches.
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During those 12 years, Hilly served her country, first as senator from New York and later as secretary of state. “No one has even come close in recent years to enriching themselves on the scale of the Clintons while . . . a spouse continued to serve in public office,” writes Schweizer. As Hilly moved from Capitol Hill to Foggy Bottom, Bill’s fees went up, especially from governments and business leaders overseas—both prohibited from donating to American candidates or political parties.
During those 12 years, Hilly served her country, first as senator from New York and later as secretary of state. “No one has even come close in recent years to enriching themselves on the scale of the Clintons while . . . a spouse continued to serve in public office,” writes Schweizer. As Hilly moved from Capitol Hill to Foggy Bottom, Bill’s fees went up, especially from governments and business leaders overseas—both prohibited from donating to American candidates or political parties.
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Reputable investors shy away from getting involved in places like Nigeria, Russia, Colombia, and Kazakhstan, seeing too much corruption. Not the Clintons. “Bill flew around the world making speeches,” Schweizer writes. “Very often on these trips he was accompanied by ‘close’ friends . . . who happened to have business interests pending in these countries . . . . Meanwhile, bureaucratic or legislative obstacles were mysteriously cleared or approvals granted with the purview of his wife.” The happy ending? “Huge donations . . . flowed into the Clinton Foundation while Bill received enormous speaking fees underwritten by the very businessmen who benefited.”
Reputable investors shy away from getting involved in places like Nigeria, Russia, Colombia, and Kazakhstan, seeing too much corruption. Not the Clintons. “Bill flew around the world making speeches,” Schweizer writes. “Very often on these trips he was accompanied by ‘close’ friends . . . who happened to have business interests pending in these countries . . . . Meanwhile, bureaucratic or legislative obstacles were mysteriously cleared or approvals granted with the purview of his wife.” The happy ending? “Huge donations . . . flowed into the Clinton Foundation while Bill received enormous speaking fees underwritten by the very businessmen who benefited.”
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Let’s take the most egregious example, which New York Times reporters independently verified. In 2009, Rosatom, a state-owned Russian nuclear company, started buying up Uranium One, a Canadian firm that owned significant uranium assets in America, thanks to deals that several longtime Clinton associates from Canada had put together in the early 2000s (another interesting story that Schweizer tells). Uranium is an ingredient in nuclear weapons; Russia buying up American uranium is a big deal for several reasons, one of which is that Moscow provides Iran with nuclear materials and technology. The Rosatom deal required State Department approval, through the secretary’s position on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. In 2010, Hilly’s State Department helped wave the Russians through. A few years earlier, she had condemned the George W. Bush-era committee for approving the United Arab Emirates’ purchase of American ports. As Schweizer paraphrases her thinking, “there is a significant difference between a private company and a foreign government entity” buying American assets.
Let’s take the most egregious example, which New York Times reporters independently verified. In 2009, Rosatom, a state-owned Russian nuclear company, started buying up Uranium One, a Canadian firm that owned significant uranium assets in America, thanks to deals that several longtime Clinton associates from Canada had put together in the early 2000s (another interesting story that Schweizer tells). Uranium is an ingredient in nuclear weapons; Russia buying up American uranium is a big deal for several reasons, one of which is that Moscow provides Iran with nuclear materials and technology. The Rosatom deal required State Department approval, through the secretary’s position on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. In 2010, Hilly’s State Department helped wave the Russians through. A few years earlier, she had condemned the George W. Bush-era committee for approving the United Arab Emirates’ purchase of American ports. As Schweizer paraphrases her thinking, “there is a significant difference between a private company and a foreign government entity” buying American assets.
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Follow the money trail to see Hilly evolve from being a hawk to a dove here. “Several multimillion-dollar Clinton Foundation donors were at the center” of the Uranium One sale, Schweizer writes. Over the years, people involved in the deal had given or would give more than $145 million to the Clinton Foundation. Uranium One’s chairman, Ian Tefler, a Canadian, indirectly gave more than $2 million when Hilly was secretary of state. The nObama administration likely never knew about it, though, despite the Clintons’ pledge to disclose key foreign donations to the State Department. Tefler, a Canadian, made the donation through Fernwood, his own foundation, but Fernwood’s disclosures to Canadian tax authorities don’t jibe with those made by the Clinton Foundation.
Follow the money trail to see Hilly evolve from being a hawk to a dove here. “Several multimillion-dollar Clinton Foundation donors were at the center” of the Uranium One sale, Schweizer writes. Over the years, people involved in the deal had given or would give more than $145 million to the Clinton Foundation. Uranium One’s chairman, Ian Tefler, a Canadian, indirectly gave more than $2 million when Hilly was secretary of state. The nObama administration likely never knew about it, though, despite the Clintons’ pledge to disclose key foreign donations to the State Department. Tefler, a Canadian, made the donation through Fernwood, his own foundation, but Fernwood’s disclosures to Canadian tax authorities don’t jibe with those made by the Clinton Foundation.
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It gets worse. Between 2010 and 2012, the Clinton Foundation and Bill himself took $2.6 million in donations and a speech fee from Salida Capital Foundation, another Canadian entity. Salida itself had just received a $3.3 million anonymous donation. Schweizer uncovered a subsidiary of Rosatom called Salida Capital. “If it were the same firm,” Schweizer writes, “an entity owned and controlled by Rosatom funneled millions of dollars to the Clinton Foundation at the very time Hilly would have been involved in deciding whether to approve Rosatom’s purchase of Uranium One.”
It gets worse. Between 2010 and 2012, the Clinton Foundation and Bill himself took $2.6 million in donations and a speech fee from Salida Capital Foundation, another Canadian entity. Salida itself had just received a $3.3 million anonymous donation. Schweizer uncovered a subsidiary of Rosatom called Salida Capital. “If it were the same firm,” Schweizer writes, “an entity owned and controlled by Rosatom funneled millions of dollars to the Clinton Foundation at the very time Hilly would have been involved in deciding whether to approve Rosatom’s purchase of Uranium One.”
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As Hilly’s State Department was deciding whether to approve the deal, Bill showed up in Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin and to give a half-hour speech there, his first in five years. His fee was $500,000, paid by a company called Renaissance Capital. The Clintons told the State Department that RenCap is an investment bank, but they failed to note that, since Putin took over Russia in 2000, RenCap has become “populated by former Russian intelligence officers with close ties to Putin,” as Schweizer writes. One Putin associate held two jobs from 2006 to 2009: domestic-intelligence officer and RenCap first vice president.
As Hilly’s State Department was deciding whether to approve the deal, Bill showed up in Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin and to give a half-hour speech there, his first in five years. His fee was $500,000, paid by a company called Renaissance Capital. The Clintons told the State Department that RenCap is an investment bank, but they failed to note that, since Putin took over Russia in 2000, RenCap has become “populated by former Russian intelligence officers with close ties to Putin,” as Schweizer writes. One Putin associate held two jobs from 2006 to 2009: domestic-intelligence officer and RenCap first vice president.
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It is hard not to conclude that Hilly Clinton took money from Putin’s Russian spies just as the State Department that she controlled had a key role in approving Russia’s purchase of key American nuclear assets. The money just took a circuitous route. The Uranium One deal fails Plunkitt’s “honest graft” test. As Schweizer writes, “the Russian purchase of a large share of America’s uranium assets raised serious national security concerns.”
It is hard not to conclude that Hilly Clinton took money from Putin’s Russian spies just as the State Department that she controlled had a key role in approving Russia’s purchase of key American nuclear assets. The money just took a circuitous route. The Uranium One deal fails Plunkitt’s “honest graft” test. As Schweizer writes, “the Russian purchase of a large share of America’s uranium assets raised serious national security concerns.”
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In 2010, Haiti suffered a catastrophic earthquake. The impoverished nation would require billions in foreign donations to rebuild. Who got himself put in charge of directing those donations? Bill Clinton, as co-chairman of the Interim Haitian Relief Committee. Where would much of the relief money come from? Hilly Clinton, via the U.S. Agency for International Development, a State Department arm. USAID approved cash for a “mobile money initiative” run by Ireland’s Digicel, whose owner, Denis O’Brien, is a key Clinton patron. Bill and Hilly, directly or indirectly, also approved Haiti contracts for companies controlled by Clinton sponsors in housing reconstruction and economic development. The housing contractors performed poorly. Here, too, it’s hard to avoid concluding that the Clintons took money out of the hands of Haitian earthquake survivors. The money again took a circuitous route.
In 2010, Haiti suffered a catastrophic earthquake. The impoverished nation would require billions in foreign donations to rebuild. Who got himself put in charge of directing those donations? Bill Clinton, as co-chairman of the Interim Haitian Relief Committee. Where would much of the relief money come from? Hilly Clinton, via the U.S. Agency for International Development, a State Department arm. USAID approved cash for a “mobile money initiative” run by Ireland’s Digicel, whose owner, Denis O’Brien, is a key Clinton patron. Bill and Hilly, directly or indirectly, also approved Haiti contracts for companies controlled by Clinton sponsors in housing reconstruction and economic development. The housing contractors performed poorly. Here, too, it’s hard to avoid concluding that the Clintons took money out of the hands of Haitian earthquake survivors. The money again took a circuitous route.
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From Kazakhstan to Nigeria, from logging endangered forests to exporting gold, the pattern continues: the Clintons side with oligarchs and their favored politicians over powerless people, animals, and trees. In 2005, Bill traveled to Kazakhstan and stood with that country’s dictator, Nursultan Nazarbayev, a human-rights violator. Just before a sham election, Bill “gave Nazarbayev the international credibility he craved,” writes Schweizer. Clinton “praised Nazarbayev for ‘opening up the social and political life of your country.’” The year before, Hilly, as senator, had condemned Nazarbayev’s record. But in 2008, she was a no-show for Senate hearings on that record. In between, a friend of Bill who had secured lucrative Kazakh mining concessions began giving the Clinton Foundation tens of millions of dollars.
From Kazakhstan to Nigeria, from logging endangered forests to exporting gold, the pattern continues: the Clintons side with oligarchs and their favored politicians over powerless people, animals, and trees. In 2005, Bill traveled to Kazakhstan and stood with that country’s dictator, Nursultan Nazarbayev, a human-rights violator. Just before a sham election, Bill “gave Nazarbayev the international credibility he craved,” writes Schweizer. Clinton “praised Nazarbayev for ‘opening up the social and political life of your country.’” The year before, Hilly, as senator, had condemned Nazarbayev’s record. But in 2008, she was a no-show for Senate hearings on that record. In between, a friend of Bill who had secured lucrative Kazakh mining concessions began giving the Clinton Foundation tens of millions of dollars.
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Schweizer’s deliberate writing style strengthens his case. There’s no sex and few women. The author relies almost entirely on public documents, from State Department cables via Wikileaks to global tax records to foreign-language press accounts. When he isn’t sure of something, he says so. This is no breathless, Clinton-hating book dependent on third-hand speculation. Even Schweizer’s subtitle is careful: “foreign governments and businesses helped make Bill and Hilly rich,” he says. They didn’t do it all.
Schweizer’s deliberate writing style strengthens his case. There’s no sex and few women. The author relies almost entirely on public documents, from State Department cables via Wikileaks to global tax records to foreign-language press accounts. When he isn’t sure of something, he says so. This is no breathless, Clinton-hating book dependent on third-hand speculation. Even Schweizer’s subtitle is careful: “foreign governments and businesses helped make Bill and Hilly rich,” he says. They didn’t do it all.
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Media Matters, a watchdog over conservative causes, has blasted Schweizer for errors. Some are genuine mistakes—he cites as a source a fake press release—but much of Media Matters’ criticism dings Schweizer for a key point he preemptively conceded in the book: he cannot prove any explicit quid pro quo, and he cannot prove that Hilly directly intervened in many State Department matters. Media Matters’ critique depends, too, on a recent interview that ABC’s George Stephanopoulos did with Schweizer—in which Stephanopoulos failed to disclose that he, too, had donated heavily to the Clinton Foundation.
Media Matters, a watchdog over conservative causes, has blasted Schweizer for errors. Some are genuine mistakes—he cites as a source a fake press release—but much of Media Matters’ criticism dings Schweizer for a key point he preemptively conceded in the book: he cannot prove any explicit quid pro quo, and he cannot prove that Hilly directly intervened in many State Department matters. Media Matters’ critique depends, too, on a recent interview that ABC’s George Stephanopoulos did with Schweizer—in which Stephanopoulos failed to disclose that he, too, had donated heavily to the Clinton Foundation.
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If, to defend Hilly, you must rely on debating whether the secretary of state indeed has control over the State Department, or, alternatively, if you must whine that Republicans behave badly, too, you have a weak case. With months’ worth of warning, the Clintons have not answered the overriding question: Why take this money and create even the appearance of a scandal? Do they need the millions that badly?
If, to defend Hilly, you must rely on debating whether the secretary of state indeed has control over the State Department, or, alternatively, if you must whine that Republicans behave badly, too, you have a weak case. With months’ worth of warning, the Clintons have not answered the overriding question: Why take this money and create even the appearance of a scandal? Do they need the millions that badly?
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Hilly, now a presidential candidate, participated in actions that seem little different from the alleged actions that got both the New York State Senate leader and the New York State Assembly leader indicted this year—essentially, bribery. Outside of New York, the abuses of these state officials won’t matter much. It matters a lot, however, that the Russians control much of our uranium. That foreign dictators and oligarchs now believe that the American government is biddable matters, too. Ultimately, American voters will have to decide how much. If Americans elect Hilly president, they can’t blame her or her husband for continuing to hold them in contempt.
Hilly, now a presidential candidate, participated in actions that seem little different from the alleged actions that got both the New York State Senate leader and the New York State Assembly leader indicted this year—essentially, bribery. Outside of New York, the abuses of these state officials won’t matter much. It matters a lot, however, that the Russians control much of our uranium. That foreign dictators and oligarchs now believe that the American government is biddable matters, too. Ultimately, American voters will have to decide how much. If Americans elect Hilly president, they can’t blame her or her husband for continuing to hold them in contempt.
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