The State Department acknowledged Monday that Hillary Clinton’s chief of staff during her tenure as secretary of state, Cheryl Mills, was heavily in touch with the then-chief operating officer of the Clinton Foundation, Laura Graham.
Fox News’ James Rosen pointed out in the State Department daily press briefing that call logs from Mills’ time as chief of staff showed Graham to be the one who called and left messages for her most frequently. The content of those calls and 150 messages is unknown. Rosen confronted State Department spokesman Mark Toner about why the two were in such close contact. Toner said it is not unusual for State Department officials to be in touch with a variety of individuals.
"So, it’s no surprise, of course, that State Department officials are in contact with a range of outside individuals and organizations, including non-profits, NGOs, and, of course, think tanks and others, and that’s certainly true with Ms. Mills," Toner said.
"Secretary Clinton’s ethics agreement at the time did not preclude other State Department officials from engaging with or having contact with the Clinton Foundation," Toner said. "So, you’re right, there are these, I guess, approximately 150 messages."
Rosen later brought up one specific message from Graham to Clinton about, "our boss."
"On one occasion, Ms. Graham left a message for Ms. Mills referencing, ‘our boss.’ Did Ms. Graham and Ms. Mills have the same boss?" Rosen asked.
"I can’t speculate as to who they were referring to," Toner said. "I just don’t know."
"I didn’t ask you to do that," Rosen said. "I just asked, ‘Did they have the same boss?’"
"They did not have the same boss," Toner said. "I can answer that."
Rosen asked Toner if Clinton and the State Department maintained an appropriate distance from the Clinton Foundation. Toner responded by saying that everything that has been seen has been appropriate.