Peter Schweizer’s book ‘Clinton Cash’ casts light on some of the problems.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: In his new book, “Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich,” author Peter Schweizer goes to great lengths to expose perceived problems within the Clinton Foundation.
The most prominent issue explored by the exposé is the manner in which individuals are appointed to the foundation’s board — the Clintons allegedly put major donors and close friends on the board, even if they have been charged or convicted of financial crimes such as bribery and fraud.
One of the most famous Clinton Foundation board members is Vinod Gupta, and Indian American who is the founder and chairman of InfoUSA. He was also a major Clinton financial supporter.
Breitbart excerpted the following passage from Schweizer’s book:
In 2008 he was charged with fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for using company funds to support his luxurious lifestyle. He was alleged to have used more than $9.5 million in corporate funds to pay for personal jet travel, millions for his yacht, personal credit card expenses, and the cost of twenty cars. He settled with the SEC for $4 million.
Gupta also paid Bill Clinton a $3 million “consulting fee,” an act that led shareholders to file a lawsuit against him on the grounds of misusing corporate funds. Gupta and InfoUSA eventually settled with shareholders to the tune of $13 million, revealed “Clinton Cash.”
Another Clinton-affiliated Indian American embroiled in murky financial waters is foundation trustee Sant Chatwal, who has been convicted of illegal campaign financing, obstruction of justice, and a list of other charges, according to Breitbart.
The book also claims the donations made by some Indian politicians and organizations were instrumental in getting Hillary, who was then a U.S. Senator, to support the 2008 Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear agreement that handed India the prerogative to purchase American nuclear fuel and technology as well as sell Indian nuclear materials to the United States
“Shortly after the legislation passed, the Indian government granted one of its most prestigious civilian awards (the Padma Bhushan) to a close Clinton family friend precisely because, as they saw it, he got Hillary to support the legislation,” Schweizer wrote of hotelier Sant Chatwal.
Indian politician Amar Singh is the other individual of Indian origin prominently featured in “Clinton Cash.” Formerly a supremo of the Samajwadi Party, the book alleges he donated a sum between $1 million and $5 million to the Clinton Foundation in 2008, the same year Clinton decided to throw her clout behind the nuclear deal.
“Indeed, India quickly became a rich vein of Clinton Foundation support,” Schweizer wrote. In fact, an entire chapter of the book has been devoted to funds received by the Clinton Foundation from Indian companies and individuals.
In an interview to ANI, Chatwal refutes allegations of having any ties with Amar Singh, and denied any connection between his Padma Bhushan and the 2008 Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation deal.
“Amar Singh and I have no relationship. I know of everyone due to my standing in the community, but as to whether he donated money [to the Clinton Foundation], I have zero idea,” Chatwal said in the interview.
“I feel that I was awarded the Padma Bhushan because of a number of reasons-due to my role during former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit of the US, including arranging a dinner for him at the White House; due to my prominence in the Indian-American community. Yes, I also did have a small hand in the Indo-US nuclear deal, but, since that agreement was signed in 2008, and I was conferred with the Padma Bhushan only in 2010, I feel the two are not related,” said Chatwal.
1 Comment
“due to my prominence in the Indian-American community”. I guess that includes defrauding Indian and American banks in the tens of millions. Filing bankruptcy while living in a 10,000 square foot penthouse while “buying” a stake in the Plaza hotel along with another Indian crook Roy who is fortunately in jail. Chatwal is up there among the crooks Clinton associates with but nothing compared to some others like Hassan Nemazee, also in jail.
What these crooks realize ex-post is that as soon as they land in hot water the Clintons drop them like a hot potato. Which of course serves them right.