Carly Fiorina, Ted Cruz slam Clinton Foundation's foreign fundraising
Several potential Republican presidential candidates leveled harsh criticism at Hillary Clinton during the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday, slamming Clinton's family foundation for accepting donations from foreign governments.
"We could have had Hillary here, but we couldn't find a foreign nation to foot the bill," joked Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, at the top of his speech.
Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina urged Clinton to "please explain why we should accept that the millions and millions of dollars that have flowed into the Clinton Foundation from foreign governments don't represent a conflict of interest."
The Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton Foundation is a non-profit group that dedicates itself to a variety of philanthropic causes across the world. As she mulls a presidential bid in 2016, Hillary Clinton has come under fire over concerns that the foundation's receipt of money from foreign governments could present a conflict of interest, particularly if she wins the presidency.
The foundation has said it will stop accepting foreign government donations if Clinton launches a bid. During her time as U.S. secretary of state, the foundation came to an agreement with the government to limit its donations from foreign governments.
Fiorina targeted Clinton's tenure at the State Department during her speech, criticizing her response to the 2012 Benghazi terror attack, her record on Russia, and other issues.
It's not "leadership when Secretary Clinton asks, 'What difference does it make?' when our embassy is deliberately attacked by terrorists and four Americans are murdered," Fiorina said. "It makes all the difference in the world and the required response has never come."
"Like Mrs. Clinton, I too have travelled the globe. Unlike Mrs. Clinton, I know that flying is an activity, not an accomplishment," she added. "I have met [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and I know that his ambition will not be deterred by a gimmicky red reset button. Mrs. Clinton, name an accomplishment."
Fiorina, who's never held elected office but has earned some buzz as a potential dark horse candidate for Republicans in 2016, suggested she'd pose a formidable challenge to Clinton, the early but still-undeclared frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.
"I will say this: if Hillary Clinton had to face me on a debate stage, at the very least she would have a hitch in her swing," Fiorina said.