Chappaqua, N.Y.,
Bill and Hillary Clinton last week sold millions of dollars worth of stock held for them in a blind trust, out of concern that their financial affairs could become a political liability for Hillary. The stocks included shares of pharmaceutical, oil, and defense contractors, as well as Wal-Mart. Many of the companies involved are frequent targets of Democratic activists. Advisors to Hillary Clinton, a top contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, say that no federal regulations required them to liquidate the trust, valued at $5 million to $25 million, but that Mrs. Clinton wanted to avoid any suggestion that her Senate votes could favorably affect her stock portfolio. Financial experts say the couple will now likely take a big hit in capital gains taxes.
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