Hillary Clinton would face tough questions about Bill's finances if chosen for Secretary of State [View All]

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Hillary Clinton would face tough questions about Bill's finances if chosen for Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton will face awkward questions about her husband's financial ties with Arab sheikhs and Central Asian oligarchs if Barack Obama nominates her as Secretary of State.


By Philip Sherwell, US Editor, in New York
Last Updated: 1:50PM GMT 16 Nov 2008


Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have had talks about her becoming his Secretary of State
Photo: GETTY


The President-Elect has reportedly sounded out his former bitter rival to be the international face for his new administration - just months after she mocked his foreign policy inexperience and criticised his plans to talk to America's enemies.

But the ex-First Lady would first have to go through a gruelling confirmation process on Capitol Hill at which, The Sunday Telegraph has learned, Republican senators will raise her husband's secrecy-shrouded business deals and fund-raising for his glitzy presidential library and foundation.

Former President Bill Clinton has consistently refused to provide the names of the donors, but newspaper investigations have identified a slew of foreign contributors, many from oil-rich Gulf states. His lucrative consultancy work for a friend's investment group has also involved dealings with Arab partners.

Republican strategists are dusting off plans to expose Mr Clinton's financial ties, which they will argue represent a serious conflict of interest for his wife as the country's top diplomat.

"Bill's multi-million dollar deals to fund his foundation and make the family rich were always going to be a profitable source of attack for us if Hillary was the candidate," said a Republican strategist. "Now it looks like we're going to get the chance to have a go at her over this, thanks to President-Elect Obama. How can Hillary represent our interests when Bill is said to have close financial ties with some oil sheikhs?"

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3464473/Hillary-Clinton-would-face-tough-questions-about-Bills-finances-if-chosen-for-Secretary-of-State.html