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ABC: State Dept Access Given to Clinton Foundation Donors ‘Precisely What She Said She Would Not Do’

August 23, 2016

ABC’s Brian Ross reported Tuesday that emails released by watchdog group Judicial Watch show that Clinton Foundation donors sought special access to the State Department when Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, despite her promising during her confirmation hearing that would not happen.

"Precisely what she said she would not do at her confirmation hearing," Ross said. "It was her promise under oath that there would be no special treatment for donors to the Clinton Foundation."

The email in question is between long-time Clinton aide Huma Abedin and Clinton Foundation executive Doug Band about the crown prince of Bahrain requesting a meeting with Clinton. Band said the crown prince was "a good friend of ours."

Abedin worked to get a meeting within 48 hours.

The crown prince was forced to go through the Clinton Foundation for an appointment after he attempted to reach out through official channels. The Bahrain government had given the foundation between $50,000 to $100,000.

Judicial Watch released 725 pages of new State Department documents that include 20 emails containing exchanges with Clinton that were not previously turned over to the department. The Democratic presidential candidate claimed that she turned over all work-related emails to the State Department when news of her personal email server had broke.

"Mrs. Clinton and her staff treated the State Department as an arm of the Clinton Foundation," Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton said.

A spokesman for the Clinton Foundation called Judicial Watch a right-wing organization and said the group has been going after the Clintons for decades. The spokesman maintained that Clinton did not take any action while she was secretary of state based off who had donated to the foundation.