Newly released internal FBI documents, obtained by the Senate Judiciary Committee, have brought to light an investigation concerning potential conflicts of interest involving foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation while Hillary Clinton served as U.S. Secretary of State. The probe, named “Cracked Foundation,” aimed to determine if foreign contributions influenced policy decisions or were used to settle campaign debts.
The investigation focused particularly on contributions from foreign individuals and entities. A key piece of evidence was a recorded conversation between Clinton and Indian businessman Sant Singh Chatwal, a trustee of the Clinton Foundation. During their discussion, which was reported on by News Now Chicago, they talked about donations in the context of Clinton's 2008 campaign obligations. Chatwal, who in 2014 pleaded guilty to laundering donations to Clinton's 2008 campaign and forfeited $1 million, was implicated in discussions about potential influence on charitable and political activities.
Despite the FBI agents' intention to question Clinton about whether the funds were diverted for personal use or influenced U.S.-India relations, such as the 2008 nuclear agreement, these issues were not pursued when Clinton appeared at FBI headquarters for an unrelated investigation into her use of a private email server. The Daily Caller reported that FBI leadership had blocked further inquiry into the Foundation, causing frustration among field agents who felt oversight was being compromised.
The Senate Judiciary Committee's documents also cast light on the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative (CGSGI), which was established around the time Clinton promised to restrict foreign donations as Secretary of State. Investigators were looking into the initiative’s funding sources and whether contributions from foreign governments were involved, raising transparency concerns.
Although the documents do not provide evidence of wrongdoing by Clinton, they do reveal the challenges faced by investigators when dealing with well-connected political figures. The recent disclosure of these FBI records provides insight into the intended scope of questioning, the leads that were not followed, and how political considerations may have influenced the investigative process.
