Briefing
Nation Nation Ties That Bind New
questions about the Clintons, both in and RXW RI RèFH BY MICHAEL SCHERER
20
Follow the money The Clintons
kicked off the CGI annual meeting of global leaders last September in New York City
the deep pockets of other global philanthropies that are backed by billionaires like Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg, the Clinton Foundation leans heavily for its funding on the family’s web of connections. And as the Clintons have worked to raise money, they have not been averse to calling on people they have helped over the years or providing promotional opportunities to donors. As Hillary Clinton finalizes preparations for another presidential campaign, those practices have come under re-
newed scrutiny. During her time as Secretary of State, the foundation accepted donations from American corporations and foreign countries that were seeking the favor of the U.S. government. In at least one case, the foundation failed to notify the State Department about a donation from Algeria that passed through the foundation to help Haiti, a possible violation of an agreement signed when Clinton became the nation’s top diplomat. The foundation has denied any impropriety in these arrangements and maintains that donors like Delos Living were featured on the event program because of the altruistic potential of their work, not their financial contributions. “When people support the Clinton time March 16, 2015
A B O V E : J O H N M O O R E — G E T T Y I M A G E S; R I G H T: K E V I N L A M A R Q U E — R E U T E R S
former president bill clinton brimmed with excitement when he announced Delos Living LLC’s new plans at a 2012 meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative. “This is a really cool commitment,” he said. “I wish I were part of it— well, I sort of am now.” He was about to pitch the group to a global audience, touting a for-profit enterprise funded and advised by his donors and friends. The idea was to create a new proprietary wellness standard for real estate by adding healthful features to interior spaces, such as cork-lined flooring, vitamin C–infused showers and electromagnetic shielding in the walls. Clinton presented the concept as a philanthropic effort more than a business. “Not just a green-building standard,” Clinton said, using prepared remarks that would form the linchpin of the company’s marketing efforts. “A well-living standard.” Over the coming years, as Delos Living rebranded luxury properties, the company also gave between $500,000 and $1 million to the Clinton Foundation. One of the company’s construction partners, Webcor, gave $100,000 to $250,000; and a second partner, ShangriLa Construction, was founded by Clinton’s friend Stephen Bing, who has given between $10 million and $25 million. Terry McAuliffe, a former Clinton aide, was an adviser to the company before becoming governor of Virginia. In 2013, at another foundation event, Delos Living announced that it would build a children’s center in Haiti named after the former President. “Thank you,” Clinton said of the honor, before promoting the company’s proprietary ideas once more. In short, this did not appear to be a normal charitable donation, but then the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation is not a normal charity. Lacking
