New donations to foundation no coincidence

If you believe in coincidence, that would explain the flood of new donations so far this year from powerful and politically connected people to the Clinton Foundation just as Hillary Rodham Clinton is ramping up her presidential campaign.

An Associated Press analysis of donors for the first half of this year shows those increasing their contributions included some of Hillary Clinton’s top political supporters, corporations and foreign governments with interests before the U.S. government and veteran Democratic fundraisers through their charitable arms.

Among major corporate interests that stepped up donations this year by giving directly or through their corporate foundations were Barclays, Citigroup and HSBC banks, Duke Energy, Cisco, Cheniere Energy, Toyota and Chevron.

Earlier this year, the foundation agreed to stop taking money from most foreign governments, but several nations — Australia, Norway and the Netherlands — were exempted and continue to donate.

So does this cozy practice pass the smell test? Even though the money isn’t going into Clinton’s campaign war chest, being able to donate unlimited amounts that the Clintons then dole out for good causes — less expenses — can’t help but curry favor with the Democratic frontrunner.

Donations to campaigns have their limits and reporting is required. This avenue toward trying to ensure future favorable treatment is allegedly cleaner and separate from the less pristine path of donating directly to a campaign.

While it may be all legal, it is a questionable practice ethically.

— Albuquerque Journal