The State Department expedited a security clearance for a major Clinton donor who was appointed to the department’s national security advisory board in 2011, according to emails obtained by Fox News and the watchdog group Citizens United.
Raj Fernando, a Chicago financial trader, was a bundler for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign and a Clinton Foundation donor before he was mysteriously tapped for the State Department’s International Security Advisory Board in 2011. He resigned after just one board meeting, when his appointment drew media attention and criticism due to his lack of national security experience and financial ties to Secretary Clinton.
But new State Department emails obtained by Citizens United also show Clinton’s senior aides rushing to get Fernando a security clearance and a face-to-face meeting with the secretary of state, according to Fox News.
"A new batch of emails also obtained by Citizens United and shared exclusively with Fox News shows dozens of State Department officials working overtime to get Fernando a security clearance," reported James Rosen.
The full story is airing Thursday night on Special Report with Bret Baier.
Citizens United said it will also be releasing 100 pages of documents on Thursday night related to Fernando’s appointment. The watchdog group received the emails as part of a public records lawsuit against the State Department.