On the Friday morning network newscasts, CBS This Morning and NBC’s Today showed no interest in picking up on an ABC News report that former President Bill Clinton sought approval from his wife’s State Department for speeches that involved African dictators and North Korea with the speaking fee for the former engagement worth $650,000.
Although Clinton did not give either speech, ABC’s Good Morning America provided their viewers with the latest development in the Clinton Foundation scandal with co-host Robin Roberts leading into chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl’s report by ruling that there’s “new trouble for Hillary Clinton” as “[s]ome new e-mails obtained by ABC News that many have an impact on her campaign.”
Karl began by noting that the former President earned over $48 million in speaking fees during Hillary’s time at the State Department with new “e-mail obtained by ABC News through a public records request by the conservative group Citizens United” revealing “just how far Bill Clinton was willing to go to earn those lucrative fees.”
Turns out, it was quite far as Clinton attempted to get approval in June 2012 for “speeches tied to two of the most brutal countries in the world.” In the first instance, it involved two authoritarian dictators in Africa:
In the first e-mail sent in June 2012, a top official with the Clinton Foundation forwards a speaking invitation for Bill Clinton in central Africa for the State Department's approval. The catch, the dictators for the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo would both be attending and requiring photos with Bill Clinton but the speaking fee, a whopping $650,000. Clinton's own speaking agency recommended declining the invitation, noting, quote, “the prevalence and intensity of sexual violence against women in eastern Congo is widely described as the worst in the world...We anticipate you'll want us to quickly decline.”
Even though Clinton did not eventually go through with it, he inquired about funneling the money from the speaking fee into the Clinton Foundation “instead of to Clinton directly.” As for the second scenario, it involved none other than North Korea:
In May 2012, the foundation also inquired with the secretary of state's office about an event related to North Korea. The secretary of state's office advised “decline it,” but the foundation followed up saying the invite came via Hillary's brother, who works as a consultant adding, quote, “we would be grateful for any specific concerns that we could share.”
Karl tossed back to fill-in co-host Dan Harris with a statement by a Bill Clinton spokesperson stating that: “[A]s a matter of course, all requests were run by the State Department, ultimately the President did not give these speeches.”
On CBS This Morning, not only was this story ignored but the network continued to skip the findings of a new poll showing that viewers consider Hillary Clinton to be a “liar,” “dishonest,” and “untrustworthy.”
The transcript of the segment from ABC’s Good Morning America on August 28 can be found below.
ABC’s Good Morning America
August 28, 2015
7:08 a.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: ABC News Exclusive; Clinton Emails Revealed; Speaking Fees Come Under Scrutiny]
ROBIN ROBERTS: We turn now to new trouble for Hillary Clinton this morning. Some new e-mails obtained by ABC News that many have an impact on her campaign. ABC's Jon Karl is at the White House this morning with that. Good morning, Jon.
JONATHAN KARL: Good morning, Robin. These e-mails obtained by ABC News show that while Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, Bill Clinton tried to get approval for speeches tied to two of the most repressive regimes in the world. The e-mails have come to light because of a public records request by the conservative group Citizens United, which sued the State Department to get them released. While Hillary Clinton served as secretary of state, Bill Clinton earned speaking fees totally over $48 million. Now, e-mails obtained by ABC News through a public records request by the conservative group Citizens United, which sued to get the documents, shows just how far Bill Clinton was willing to go to earn those lucrative fees. Trying to get approval for speeches tied to two of the most brutal countries in the world. In the first e-mail sent in June 2012, a top official with the Clinton Foundation forwards a speaking invitation for Bill Clinton in central Africa for the State Department's approval. The catch, the dictators for the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo would both be attending and requiring photos with Bill Clinton but the speaking fee, a whopping $650,000. Clinton's own speaking agency recommended declining the invitation, noting, quote, “the prevalence and intensity of sexual violence against women in eastern Congo is widely described as the worst in the world...We anticipate you'll want us to quickly decline.” Still, the Clinton Foundation official says the former President wants to know if he could accept the speech if the money went to the foundation instead of to Clinton directly. Hillary Clinton has longed defended the couple's paid speeches since leaving the White House.
HILLARY CLINTON: I thought making speeches for money was a much better thing than getting connected with any one group or company.
KARL: In May 2012, the foundation also inquired with the secretary of state's office about an event related to North Korea. The secretary of state's office advised “decline it,” but the foundation followed up saying the invite came via Hillary's brother, who works as a consultant adding, quote, “we would be grateful for any specific concerns that we could share.” Hillary's Chief of Staff wrote back to tell Bill Clinton, quote, “if he needs more let him know his wife knows and I am happy to call him.” Last night, a spokesperson for Bill Clinton e-mailed, quote, “as a matter of course, all requests were run by the State Department, ultimately the President did not give these speeches.” Dan.
DAN HARRIS: He did not give the speeches in the end. Worth noting. Jon Karl, thank you.
