John Koskinen, IRS Commissioner, announced that the IRS is investigating the Clinton Foundation for “pay-to-play” operations. The investigation began with a letter sent on July 15 by 64 House Republicans. The letter was sent to the IRS, FBI and FTC.
The letter alleges that the Clinton Foundation is “lawless.”
Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn is leading the investigation. Blackburn is the vice chairman of the House Committee, which oversees the FTC.
Allegations insinuate that the Clinton Foundation has been operating as a philanthropy operation, but has been operating as a “pay-to-play” entity. Koskinen’s reply to the Republicans came one week after the group contacted the IRS. The reply to Republicans came on the first day of the Democratic National Convention.
Blackburn states, “The IRS has a double standard. They would go after conservative groups and religious groups and organizations, but they wouldn’t be looking at the Clinton Foundation for years.”
The complaint names Uranium One and Laureate Education. Both companies donated hefty sums to the foundation and later were granted with government benefits.
Bill Clinton was paid $16.5 million over a five-year period by Laureate Education, who was named “honorary chancellor.” The company was granted $150 million in investment money from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an entity in which the U.S. Government is the biggest contributor. The contribution came at a time when Clinton was secretary of state.
The IFC also provided $55 million to the International Youth Foundation. Douglas Becker, CEO of Laureate, is on the board of directors of the foundation.
