Rand Paul: Clinton Foundation donor policy changes not enough
The Clinton Foundation changed its policies regarding donations from foreign governments, but that hasn't quieted one of the Democratic presidential candidate's most vocal critics -- Republican Sen. Rand Paul.
"I still think there is an appearance of impropriety in the sense that we have campaign election laws that say you can't take money from foreign countries or foreign citizens," Paul, a Kentucky senator and 2016 presidential candidate said in an interview with CBS News. "The reason is, we don't want it to appear as if people are buying influence in our government or that you might have mixed loyalties."
Clinton stepped down from the board of her family foundation last week, leaving former President Bill Clinton and their daughter, Chelsea, to oversee the charity while she runs for president. On Monday, the Foundation announced several changes, in a nod to the potential liability it has on Clinton's presidential aspirations.
Officials said it would only accept large donations from six foreign governments - Australia, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and Canada. The Foundation will also disclose donors more often - every three months, instead of once a year. Foundation officials say the policies are more stringent than when Clinton was Secretary of State and had agreed to limit donations as part of a deal with the Obama administration.
Paul has been especially critical of the Foundation's contributions from Gulf Arab States, particularly Saudi Arabia, which has internationally condemned records on human rights and contributed between $10 million and $25 million since 2001.
"They are not exactly a pillar for women's rights," Paul said of Saudi Arabia. "I think that it will drown out her message, too. A little helpful campaign advice -- if you want to be for women's rights, don't accept money from people who abuse women's rights."
Gulf Arab governments and others around the world that aren't part of the accepted six countries can still participate in Clinton Foundation events, including the Clinton Global Initiative. The Foundation will also still accept donations from foreign businesses and individuals with ties to their governments.
But Paul said they should go even further.
"Some of these countries, it's hard to separate government from the individual," Paul said. "I really think that not only should she not take the money from foreign countries I think she should give back what she's taken because I think that it really it's a sense of impropriety."
"It sends a message that basically American politicians can't be bought and sold by foreign countries," Paul said.