WASHINGTON, November 30 – Former US president Bill Clinton has agreed to disclose the names of more than 200,000 donors to his foundation so his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton to become secretary of state, The New York Times reported on Sunday.
The move is part of an agreement with President-elect Barack Obama that will allow
Citing unnamed Democrats close to both sides said, the newspaper said Clinton had decided to publish the list of donors to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest with Clinton’s duties as the nation’s top diplomat.
Obama plans to announce Hillary Clinton’s nomination on Monday, the paper said.
The disclosure of contributors is among nine conditions that Bill Clinton agreed to during discussions with representatives of Obama, The Times noted.
He also agreed to incorporate his Clinton Global Initiative separately from his foundation so that he has less direct involvement, according to the report.
The initiative, which promotes efforts to fight disease, poverty and climate change, would no longer hold annual meetings outside of the United States or accept new contributions from foreign governments, the paper noted.
Bill Clinton also agreed to submit his future personal speeches and business activities for review by State Department ethics officials or the White House counsel’s office.
The deal was negotiated after questions were raised about the former president’s web of business and charitable activities.
Some commentators asked how he could continue soliciting contributions for his foundation and collecting six-figure speaking fees for himself from foreign organizations and individuals while his wife conducted US foreign policy, The Times said.
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