Bill Clinton to name donors
2008-11-30 22:50
New York - Former president Bill Clinton
has agreed to make public the names of more than 200 000 donors
to his foundation as part of a deal with President-elect Barack
Obama to clear the way for Senator Hillary Clinton to become
secretary of state, The New York Times reported on Sunday.
Citing Democrats close to Clinton and Obama, the newspaper
reported Clinton had decided to publish his contributor list to
avoid an appearance of conflict of interest with his wife's
duties as secretary of state.
Her appointment is expected to be announced on Monday.
A member of Obama's transition team confirmed the
conditions of the agreement as reported by the Times.
The contributors' list is one of nine conditions that
Clinton agreed to in his discussions with Obama's
representatives, the newspaper reported.
Clinton turned over the names of all 208 000 individuals
and organisations that have given money since 1997, the Times
said, while the agreement holds that his foundation will
release them publicly by year's end.
Future donors will also be disclosed as long as Hillary
Clinton is in the cabinet, it said.
The former president has also agreed to submit his speeches
and business dealings in advance to State Department ethics
officials for their review, as well as to the White House
counsel's office if need be, the Times reported.
The Obama team said it expected Clinton's concessions would
defuse any potential controversy, the report said.
- Reuters