Clintons Strive to Avoid Conflict of Interest Claims

Pair lead separate lives focusing on same issues
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 26, 2009 9:20 AM CST
Clintons Strive to Avoid Conflict of Interest Claims
Bill Clinton, left, speaks with President Obama as Hillary Clinton looks on prior to the funeral mass for Ted Kennedy.   (AP Photo/Brian Snyder, Pool)

Bill and Hillary Clinton live largely separate professional lives but still end up dealing with many of the same leaders and issues. The secretary of state, keen to avoid any accusations, downplays her husband's influence, but Team Clinton sometimes still works together. The couple's combined energies have paid off on projects like aid for Haiti and Third World development, the Washington Post reports.

The two, based in separate cities, phone and email often, associates say. Bill has passed up speaking engagements to head off conflict of interest accusations, according to his friends. "So far, it's worked because he's been so careful," one Clinton associate says. Bill agreed to disclose donors to his Clinton Foundation earlier this year. The first such disclosure, which will no doubt be picked over by Clinton critics, is due next month.
(More Bill Clinton stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X