Support of Clinton Foundation Donors Treated Favorably Not Proved - Earnest

Accusations that Clinton Foundation donors were given favorable treatment by the US Department of State and US President Barack Obama’s administration are unsupported, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest stated during a press briefing on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier in Monday, The New York Times previewed the release of a new book investigating foreign donations to The Clinton Foundation, allegedly in exchange for currying favor to make US foreign policies more beneficial to the donors.

“There are lots of accusations like this, but… there's nobody that's martialed in the evidence to indicate this,” Earnest said.

The book’s author, Peter Schweizer, alleges that he traced a pattern of donations from foreign governments and individuals that "occurred contemporaneous" with US foreign policy decisions benefiting those donors.

Schweizer estimates that The Clinton Foundation accumulated some $136.5 million during the 11 years of Hillary's public service, first as a US Senator and then as the top US diplomat. In 2011 alone, former US President Bill Clinton earned $13.3 million in speaking fees.

Earnest explained that before assuming the role of US State Secretary in 2009, Hillary Clinton — a founder of The Clinton Foundation together with her husband and former US President Bill Clinton — signed a “memorandum of understanding” to ensure that she and her office were compliant with strict ethical guidelines.

“The President [Obama] continues to be extraordinarily proud of the work that Secretary Clinton did as a Secretary of State,” Earnest said.

On Wednesday, The Clinton Foundation announced it would continue to receive funds from six foreign states — Australia, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom — while limiting donations from other countries.

The decision comes after Hillary Clinton announced on April 12, 2015 that she would seek the Democratic presidential nomination.

The Clinton Foundation works on issues of economic empowerment, citizen service and racial reconciliation, acording to the organization’s website. The Foundation was established in 2001 after Bill Clinton completed his last presidential term.