Latest Clinton emails reveal worrisome flip-flop on controversial Colombian trade agreement


The U.S. State Department released its second-to-last batch of Hillary Clinton emails Friday night, 881 of which concern a controversial political flip-flop on a Colombian trade deal. According to International Business Times, Clinton had opposed the trade deal during her 2008 presidential bid, citing concerns about "the history of violence against trade unionists in Colombia." However, the latest emails show Clinton actually lobbying Democratic members of Congress to support the deal.
"I told [Michigan Congressman Sandy Levin] that at the rate we were going, Columbian [sic] workers were going to end up [with] the same or better rights than workers in Wisconsin and Indiana and, maybe even, Michigan," Clinton wrote in an email to U.S. Trade Representative and former Citigroup representative Michael Froman and her aide and former vice chairman of Goldman Sachs Robert Hormats.
Froman responded by thanking Clinton for her "help and support." Hormats replied that Clinton had done a "terrific job" and "GREAT line on Columbian [sic] workers!!!!!"
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.
Even with Clinton's assurances, there is evidence that violence against workers in Colombia remains a serious problem. "In the four years since the United States and Colombia signed the Labor Action Plan — a precursor to the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement — to address entrenched labor rights violations, Colombian workers have suffered more than 1,933 threats and acts of violence, including 105 assassinations of union activists and 1,337 death threats," a 2015 AFL-CIO report reads. Labor leaders also contacted the State Department at the time Clinton was head, complaining of the abuse of union activists in Colombia, only to be dismissed and see the trade agreement move forward.
Clinton is under review for using a personal email server while serving as secretary of state. Of the 88 classified emails released Friday night, none had been classified at the time they were sent. The State Department will publish the last of the emails on Monday.
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
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350 – an 'intense and betwitching' show
The Week Recommends 'Blockbuster' National Gallery exhibition explores whether Siena was truly 'the birthplace of the Renaissance'
By The Week UK Published
-
The Supreme Court revives a family's quest to recover looted Nazi art
Under the Radar The painting in question is currently in a Spanish museum
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Codeword: March 14, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Trump trade war heats up as Canada, EU retaliate
Speed Read The president imposes 25% steel and aluminum tariffs in an effort to revive US manufacturing, though it may drive up prices for Americans instead
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump hawks Teslas, slashes more federal jobs
Speed Read The Education Department cut its workforce in half ahead of an expected Trump order to shutter the agency
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine agrees to ceasefire, ending US aid freeze
Speed Read Kyiv made peace with the Trump administration by agreeing to an immediate ceasefire in its war against Russian invaders
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
ICE arrests Palestinian advocate with green card
Speed Read Recent Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil has had his visa revoked, despite his status as a permanent resident
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump doesn't rule out recession as tariffs bite
Speed Read In an interview for Fox News, Trump acknowledges the economic turbulence caused by his tariffs but claims his policies will be worth it in the long run
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Mark Carney selected next Canadian prime minister
Speed Read The political novice will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump eases Mexico, Canada tariffs again as markets slide
speed read The president suspended some of the 25% tariffs he imposed on Mexican and Canadian imports
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump tells Cabinet they are in charge of layoffs, not Musk
Speed Read The White House has faced mounting complaints about DOGE's sweeping cuts
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published