Bill Clinton aide brags of enriching ex-president, Clinton Foundation, in WikiLeaks hacked memo
On Wednesday, WikiLeaks released a 2011 memo written by longtime Bill Clinton aide Douglas Band and hacked from the emails of John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman and at the time a top adviser to the Clinton Foundation. In the 12-page memo, Band defended "the unorthodox nature" of his multiple roles raising money for the Clinton Foundation, procuring paid speaking engagements for Bill Clinton, and getting clients for his own nascent consulting firm, Teneo — a network of activity Band called "Bill Clinton Inc."
Band wrote the memo to a law firm Chelsea Clinton had hired to audit the foundation, part of her push to clean up and professionalize the family charity after she took a more leading role. In other emails released by WikiLeaks, Chelsea had complained to Podesta that Band and his Teneo staff were using Bill Clinton's name without permission to benefit Teneo, and appeared to be "hustling business" at Clinton Foundation events. Band, in the Podesta emails, calls Chelsea "a spoiled brat kid who has nothing else to do but create issues to justify what she's doing because she, as she has said, hasn't found her way and has a lack of focus in her life"; "has gone to daddy to change a decision or interject herself"; and through a complimentary email had given him "a kiss on the cheek while she is sticking the knife in the back, and front."
In the memo, Band listed how much each of Teneo's 20 clients had donated to the Clinton Foundation ($8 million) or paid Bill Clinton in speaking fees ($3 million), and in an email said that Bill Clinton "is personally paid" by some Clinton Foundation donors and "gets many expensive gifts from them." The fallout with Chelsea led to Band's departure from the Clinton orbit starting in 2012. Hillary Clinton is not mentioned in the memo, though other emails show her aides trying to figure out how to inoculate Hillary from any foundation activity that could harm her political future.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Joy: fertility film starring Bill Nighy offers 'dose of seasonal cheer'
The Week Recommends The film about the invention of the fertility treatment is 'unassuming' but may 'sneak up on you'
By The Week UK Published
-
The problem with 'Cool Girl Lit'
Talking Point Has the ultra-popular book genre gone too far in 'commodifying' women's vulnerability?
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off' tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden allows Ukraine to hit deep in Russia
Speed Read The U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to use ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, a decision influenced by Russia's escalation of the war with North Korean troops
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sri Lanka's new Marxist leader wins huge majority
Speed Read The left-leaning coalition of newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won 159 of the legislature's 225 seats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden arrives in Peru for final summits
Speed Read President Joe Biden will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, visit the Amazon rainforest and attend two major international summits
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published