WASHINGTON (CNN) - A spokesman for Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn confirms he objected to a voice vote approval of Hillary Clinton's secretary of state nomination today.
His office released a letter Friday he sent to the New York senator expressing concern that foreign donors to former President Bill Clinton's foundation might give the appearance of a conflict of interest.
“I remain deeply troubled that America’s foreign policy and your diplomatic mission will be encumbered by the sweeping global activities of the Clinton Foundation … unless tighter foreign fundraising restrictions and transparency protocols are adopted by your husband’s organization,” Cornyn wrote in the letter.
“Put simply, the Foundation’s refusal of foreign-source donations while you serve as Secretary of State is in this nation’s interest. But I am willing to consider other options to reduce the likelihood of real or perceived conflicts of interest that will result from foreign donations.”
From CNN Politics
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Of course foriegn state contributions to Clinton's Foundation will be a conflict of interests.
They gave the Senate Seat to Burris – with One Republican Voting No
SO, what's wrong with the 1 "No" Vote with Hillary ?
I think she should be sworn IN, unless there is a Majority of "No" Votes.
She was almost president, but cannot be Sec of State. What foolishness. Vote the republican out!
Typical GWB-type Texan.
WHAT A TOOL!!!!!! This is not the time for partisan politics. I hope he's proud of himself and his constituents are happy.
Republicans are ridiculous. Hardly any peace in the middle east as Bush predicted by the end of his term and they want to squabble about Clinton. Bush 41 has been getting money for his presidential library all this time and who knows where its been coming from. But that's not a concern. It's only when Hilary has a relative raising money from overseas that we demand to know everything. Repugs yall still lost and are now acting like losers. Keep it up. W was the worst and yall voted for him twice. Your sense of judgement isnt worth much.
Does this guy not understand that she will be confirmed by a wide margin? Why would he want our country to be without a Secretary of State for even a short time in a time of war ? Way to grandstand GOP idiot!
Anything at all for a chance to hurt Bill Clinton. Cornyn's a political saboteur, undercutting the Obama administration just so he can settle old scores. He's just the kind of Senator we need to retire.
We wont forget you,John "Im owned by big oil"Cornyn.
John Cornyn is a pathetic old hack! I'm not the biggest Clinton fan, but there is absolutely no reason for him to do this other than he's a nobody in the Senate and in Texas.
How would the Democrats vote is the situation was occurring with a Republican Secretary of State and a Republican-led foundation?
Hooray for Democratic hypocrisy.
Cornyn = nyn-com-poop!
"Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn... now he's interested in over-sight and transparency? He surely didn't give a hoot and or a holler about that for the past 8 years!
The continued GOP hypocrisy is enough to choke and elephant!
I'd be curious to know his thoughts on Dick Cheney's Halliburton connections when that company was being awarded contracts hand over foot for the reconstruction of Iraq; or where did he stand when the country's energy policy was being shaped by oil company executives. His statement sounds like political hyperbole to me.
Get over it!!!! We have had enough of Republican rhetoric and hate. It sure seems like a pathetic attempt to keep it going. Rush Limbaugh is probably your hero.
Barack Obama and Bill Clinton voter here who completely agrees. This is entirely reasonable. They are not trying to block Hillary from the post, they just want to smooth this aspect over so we don't have any – as he says – real or perceived conflicts.
“I remain deeply troubled that America’s foreign policy and your diplomatic mission will be encumbered by the sweeping global activities of the Clinton Foundation … unless tighter foreign fundraising restrictions and transparency protocols are adopted by your husband’s organization,” Cornyn wrote in the letter.
“Put simply, the Foundation’s refusal of foreign-source donations while you serve as Secretary of State is in this nation’s interest. But I am willing to consider other options to reduce the likelihood of real or perceived conflicts of interest that will result from foreign donations.”
Is this really a problem? This is the way it should be Dem or Repub.
Cornyn needs to be careful. Texas is less red than it use to be. And, unless he has subtantive concerns rather than simply wanting to throw some "stink eye" into the process, he better start looking over his shoulders for some powerful Democratic challenge at re-election time.
Cornyn is toast down the road!!!
Funny, it didn't trouble Cornyn that Cheney was the former CEO of Halliburton, and Halliburton grew from ranked #39 as a Defense Contractor to #2 under Bush's administration during the Iraq Farce?!?!?!
Cornyn barely won in Texas so he needs to be careful where he stirs trouble, otherwise he will most certainly not be elected next time around!
Oh that we are still stuck with Cornyn here in Texas! Ugh...
Texas has sent a series of undistinguished Conservative underperformers to Washington. Cornyn is part of that series. I'm sure Texas voters will send more of them to Washington in the future. Their role in national government has typically been to block, stall, obfuscate, prevent, hinder, stop, or otherwise keep the nation from solving its problems.
Cornyn is part of that grand Texas tradition.
A Texas obstructionist.....Surprise, surprise.
OK give him his One moment of glory which he has just received,tell him to shut-up and lets get to work!
At lease 1 person has a brain.
She has no foreign policy experience and the Clintons have accepted more foreign donations than anyone in history.
How is that NOT a conflict of interest????
Oh, yes, I'm so sure he's "deeply troubled"; just like the entire nation of the US has been and the rest of the planet have been with his President and the rest of the republicans and their constant and continued corruption of any and all things.
Move on already.
How about Bush – 41's Billions from Saudis for doing nothing but, smiling over at Carlyle Group? How about all the hundreds of millions James Baker got for his law firm? Wasn't Jim Baker Secy of state and his law firm go oodles of $ and contracts before and after his tenure. I don't remember any Repubs complaining about it.
Get over it JC. Enough with partisanship – do something for the country.
It's been acknowledged by most that the scrutiny that has already been agreed to by Bill C. is unprecedented in comparison to any other previous presidents or candidates for office. They're already disclosing more than anyone ever has and enough to dispel any conceiveable conflict of interest. But of course, nothing would be enough to satisfy Cornyn.
And to the comments that "foreign state contribution to [BILL] Clinton's foundation will be a conflict of interest"-- it's HILLARY CLINTON that is being confirmed as Secretary of State, not Bill. Bill will not be making decisions. Give Hillary credit for more than that, she's not stupid.
Just because Cheney's interests in Halliburton have had such a huge impact on the decisions regarding the Iraq war.......