Sen. Rand Paul, a potential presidential candidate in 2016, says he’s more bothered by the Clinton Foundation accepting donations from foreign governments than Hillary Clinton using a private email address in her capacity as secretary of state.
The Kentucky Republican also said he was bothered more by Clinton’s oversight as head of the State Department during the lead up to the 2012 attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
“The emails don’t bother me as much as several other things. The main thing that bothers me, and I think should preclude her from being considered for the presidency, is that she didn’t defend our mission in Benghazi. She was asked repeatedly for security, didn’t defend the consulate there and I think as a consequence I think lost our ambassador there,” Paul told NewsMaxTV during an appearance on Tuesday.
Paul furthermore said foreign donors giving money to the Clinton Global Initiative gave the appearance of buying influence, saying it “really bothers” him.
“The other that’s come out recently that really bothers me is that she’s taking foreign donations from the heads of foreign states from I guess different sovereign funds but basically foreign countries for her foundation. And I think this almost, it has the appearance anyway whether it’s true or not, it has the appearance of foreign countries buying influence with someone who could potentially run for the presidency.”
The Clinton Foundation stopped taking money from foreign governments in 2009 when Clinton became the secretary of state, but dropped the ban after she left that office in 2013.
“So, I think there’s a lot of things she gonna have to answer and really that some of her behavior I think really should make a lot of Americans think twice about whether or not whether to consider her,” Paul later added.
Adrienne Elrod, a spokesperson for Correct the Record, a research group that defends the Clintons labeled Paul an extremist in comments defending her record.
“Rand Paul’s brand of extremism would hurt Americans and foster global instability. Americans want a tested and proven leader like Hillary Clinton who has worked to create opportunity and security throughout the world. As Secretary of State, Hillary took action, responsibility, and was fully transparent in working to make the world a safer place following the Benghazi tragedy, and through the charitable work of the Clinton Foundation, she has helped improve the lives of millions.”
