Bipartisan Call for More Clinton Foundation Transparency

January 13, 2009 2:45 PM

ABC News’ Rick Klein and Kirit Radia Report: The ongoing (and almost entirely smooth) confirmation hearing for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to serve as Secretary of State has had at least one notable exchange regarding the Clinton Foundation: A bipartisan call for more disclosure and/or restrictions on the former president’s fundraising.

Sen. Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, outlined his concerns about the current agreement between the Clinton and Obama teams in his opening statement.

Lugar, R-Ind., said he would like the Clinton Foundation to stop accepting donations from foreign entities entirely after Clinton, D-N.Y., is confirmed as secretary of state.

Assuming that won’t happen, he outlined a series of recommendations for further transparency. Those include immediate disclosure of any donation of $50,000 or more; immediate disclosure of pledges of $50,000-plus donations from foreign entities, in addition to disclosure when the actual donations are made; and State Department review of all gifts from foreign sources -- individuals as well as governments.

“Operational inconveniences for the Foundation or a reduction in some types of donations that have been accepted in the past are small prices to pay when balanced against the serious business of U.S. foreign policy that affects the security of every American,” Lugar said in his opening statement.

After Lugar finished, Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., chimed in to say that Lugar wasn’t speaking just as the top Republican, "I think it's fair to say that Sen. Lugar is not speaking from a partisan's perspective but I think he is really expressing the view of the committee as a whole. And we look forward to having a good discussion about this"

This is nothing that threatens to derail Clinton’s nomination -- not even close. But it could put pressure on the Clinton and Obama teams to reexamine the disclosure agreement, to provide more details of donations that could present conflicts of interest with Clinton’s work at the State Department.

But so far in the hearing, Clinton hasn’t been asked about any of the donations to the foundation, so it’s not clear how far senators will press their point of view.

UPDATE: Sen. David Vitter, R-La., is asking Clinton about potential conflicts of interest, and wants Clinton to agree to further disclosure of donations.

Clinton said the foundation is going “beyond even what the rules would call for” in disclosing and pre-clearing donors.

”I recognize that these are unique circumstances, to say the least,” Clinton said. “It is not unique, however, for spouses of government officials to work, and there are very well-established rules.”