Clinton Library Sells Secret Donor List
EmailThree years after the William J. Clinton Presidential Library opened its doors, the list of donors who helped the former president build his $165 million complex remains a secret from the public. Yet the Blotter on ABCNews.com has learned that the Clinton Foundation sold portions of the list through a data company headed by a longtime friend and donor. "The fact that they’ve sold the list and then turned around and said that these names must be kept anonymous completely undercuts their argument," said Sheila Krumholz of the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington, D.C.-based government watchdog group that tracks the influence of money in politics. An employee of Walter Karl, a subsidiary of the data company InfoUSA, told ABCNews.com that the company made a list of more than 38,000 donors to the Clinton presidential library available for sale to foundations and other nonprofit groups from June 2006 to May 2007. A spokesman for the company would not say how the profits from the sale of the partial list were distributed. See the Walter Karl listing. There is no legal requirement for presidential libraries to disclose the identities of their contributors. Donors, including corporations and foreign governments, can give unlimited amounts while the president is still sitting in office. THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS Photos Trouble on the Campaign Trail Primetime Video Heated Exchange: Clinton and Jennings Full Blotter Coverage Norman Hsu, Clinton Fundraiser Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage "This is one of the few places that remain under the veil of secrecy, and there is really no good reason for it," says Krumholz. "Disclosure is important because the money is often being raised while the president is in office, and in this case and with the Bush family, they can be given for currying favor with persons other than the president being honored." "I don’t think I should disclose it unless there is some conflict of which I am aware of, and there is not," said former President Bill Clinton at a news conference in September after his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, was questioned about the donor list at a presidential debate. "A lot of people gave me money with the understanding that they could give anonymously. And if they gave publicly, they would be the target for every other politician in America." The former foundation chairman Skip Rutherford says that when the foundation started soliciting funds, it adopted the policy of the Reagan library to leave disclosure up to donors. "People were told that we would not disclose their gifts," said Rutherford. "Disclosure was up to the donor; if the donors chose to do so, it was their prerogative. Some did; others didn’t." The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum voluntarily disclosed a list of donors giving more than $10,000 at its opening, with the exception of a "few" who asked to remain anonymous, according to the library’s executive director Dr. Roman Popadiuk. Late in the day, the Clinton Foundation responded to the story with a statement saying, "the Foundation’s list included individuals who gave $100 or less in response to direct mail solicitations. Using the Walter Karl Company as its vendor, other entities could rent or exchange use of the Foundation’s list. The vendor independently undertakes the mailing and does not share the actual list with other entities." The little that is known about the identities of the donors to the Clinton library was reported by the New York Sun in 2004, after a reporter discovered the names on a touch-screen computer on the third floor of the library after its opening. Members of the Saudi royal family, Arab businessmen, the governments of Dubai, Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei and Taiwan, and Hollywood celebrities, were among the 57 individuals or foundations who gave $1 million or more to the library, according to the Sun. The computer with the list of donors was disconnected after the Sun article ran. At the time, Clinton officials said that a permanent list of donors contributing $100,000 or more would eventually be installed on a wall at the library. Bill Rollnick, the former chairman of Mattel and a longtime Clinton supporter who was among those contributing $1 million or more, said he didn’t think the donor list was "anybody’s business." "If they want to make it public, that’s their business," said Rollnick. "There’s nothing nefarious about it — it’s just a library."Vin Gupta, CEO of InfoUSA, was also on the list of donors giving $1 million or more. His ties to the Clintons came under scrutiny earlier in the year when a lawsuit filed by InfoUSA shareholders accused Gupta of wasting millions of dollars of the company’s money to "ingratiate himself" with the Clintons and other personal friends. Separately, a New York Times article in May revealed that InfoUSA was involved in an investigation in Iowa for selling mailing lists of elderly Americans to criminals. In response to the investigation, the company released a statement saying, "While InfoUSA can not manage what a client does with the publicly available information InfoUSA provides, the company has a strict policy about not selling data to companies who act illegally." Gupta has donated and raised millions of dollars for the Clintons’ political campaigns and charities over the last decade. InfoUSA spent millions more paying the former president as a consultant and flying him and his wife to events around the country and family vacations in Hawaii and Acapulco, Mexico on the company’s private jet, according to the court documents. InfoUSA officials have stated that the expenses were "legitimate business expenses." Read Vin Gupta’s statement. A spokesman for Sen. Clinton said in May that InfoUSA had been reimbursed for her flights, though ethics rules at the time only required the reimbursement be equal to the cost of first-class airfare. This post has been updated. Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
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Get back to us AFTER you publish the donor list for the Ronald Reagan or George HW Bush presidential libraries, ok?
This is a non-issue, given the Republican propensity for secrecy, with all due respect.
What we really want to know is how much the Saudi Arabians gave to the Bush family legacy, given that most of the 9-11 bombers were from Saudi Arabia.
Get on that right away, ok?
Posted by: Mary | November 19, 2007, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm
I’d bet that the list would be truly revealing. And I think we all know who gets a cut of the profits.
What a shady bunch!
Posted by: Surelock Homes | November 19, 2007, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm
I thought all criticism of the Clinton’s was a vast right wing conspiracy?
It is not unusual to publish names only–Los Angeles County Museum og Art has a similar wall in front of that building.
It does seem amiss if readily available
adress info, phone numbers, etc..was given.
Posted by: Mark | November 19, 2007, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
Of course… did you really expect anything else from tricky dicky. What is your definition of “the”.
Posted by: MarinesCallmeDoc1 | November 19, 2007, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
Sort of sums up the Clinton view on how to deal with the public and business. Tell they what they want to hear at the start and then sell them out for what you can get or exploit! If America is stupid enough to elect another corrupt Clinton, ye deserve what ye are going to get. Its not as if ye weren’t warned. Enough folk are shouting already about their gutter tactics and two-faced lies. Good luck America – your going to need it.
Posted by: Jazz_jeff | November 19, 2007, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
Yeah i hope they publish all the money bill stole from the arkansas state parks commsion!
Posted by: katy | November 19, 2007, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
I’m a long time supporter of Clinton. I’m a little concerned that they are in so tight with a data company like that. One of my biggest concerns is the lack of privacy we have in this country now. Somebody is tracking everything we do and selling the information. I’m not as comfortable with the Clintons knowing this connection.
Posted by: sara | November 19, 2007, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
I think I would find it more interesting to read a story regarding the money exchanged between the U.S. and other countries to locate Osama Bin Laden; and we still have not found him?
Posted by: sue from texas | November 19, 2007, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
Hasn’t anyone figured out they are all
full of it ? I doubt there has been a
completely honest politician since….
well, I don’t know !!
Money and favors run Washington…not
we “people”….
Posted by: Doug L. | November 19, 2007, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
This is an issue that we should all be concerned about, Republican or Democrat. All of this information should be fully disclosed. It is a disgrace that it is not a requirement. How long are we going to be a free nation, if pols are selling themselves out to private interests left and right?
Posted by: maddymappo | November 19, 2007, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
Everyone has been saying it all along that the Clintons are crooked , and now with this coming to light .. the clintons have made up my mind for me to stay the away from thier campain and focus on someone else’s . I don’t have it in me to support such wrong doings , the whole point here is to get a good new president not go backwards .
Posted by: fedupwithclintonslies | November 19, 2007, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
Why does anybody care who donated to the Clinton Library? I mean really, WHO CARES?!!!
Posted by: Sean | November 19, 2007, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm
Mary, it IS a big deal because HILLARY CLINTON IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT! If Laura Bush was running I’d want to know about money being colected right now for the library. If Barbara Bush had run I’d have wanted to know about H.W.’s library donors. How come this story didn’t mention that CNN (truly the Clinton news Network) exclusively uses InfoUSA to provide their polls? Gupta had a picture of him and Hillary on his corporate site until about three months ago. Wonder who made him take it down?
Posted by: MarkieBee | November 19, 2007, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm
There may very well be Saudi donors to the Clinton Library & Massage Parlor, but there are likely many Red Chinese donors
Posted by: oswald czolgosz | November 19, 2007, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
Why drag Bush into this? He’s not running for President again. I’d like to know what presidental candidate Hillary Clinton and Slick Willie are hiding. She’s running for President. Throwing Bush’s name up time and again won’t deflect anything. The American people remember their lies…..
Posted by: havoc40154 | November 19, 2007, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
We need to have a government that’s ethical, open and honest! I don’t think many of today’s politicians are going to turn their back on a powerful large campaign contributor! Finding a clean politician is like trying to find a virgin, it’s become almost impossible!
Posted by: 312 Capri | November 19, 2007, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
This is crap, and everybody with an IQ above 35 knows it.
Posted by: Scott | November 19, 2007, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
I’ll buy Hillary’s thesis
Posted by: brian | November 19, 2007, 6:26 pm 6:26 pm
It goes on and on and on
The convoluted money schemes the Clintons are always involved in and the info on the paybacks should at some point show people who admire the Clintons what they are admiring.
This is another example of how the great media mainstream media can not seem to put out the same info this article provides
Wake up people – you can’t trust the Clintons
Posted by: Volunteer | November 19, 2007, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm
How about the fact that not only are Hillary’s first lady papers being kept from the public but, also her years in Arkansas. She left almost 20 years ago and they still are not available.
What is she hiding and maybe the press needs to make an issue of this.
There is definitely something sleazy with the clintons and they cannot be trusted.
Hillary has no business claiming experience and the press agreeing when there is nothing to back it up
Posted by: dlake | November 19, 2007, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
Who cares??!! How can any thinking American say that in todays world?
Everything matters and people must be accountable for their words and deeds.
Think back to the clinton years and the decline of American Political discourse. This ugly harsh atmosphere is another clinton leftover. Do we want to revisit any part that?
Posted by: snorkle | November 19, 2007, 7:25 pm 7:25 pm
Why is there a PICTURE of Bill Clinton with this article? Is Bill the one selling the names, does he have ANYTHING to do with it? I didn’t see his name associated with anything except the name on the Library itself. But, lots of postings are referring to the Clintons, it’s about the managers of the information at the Library, not anything to do with Bill or Hillary.
Posted by: able | November 19, 2007, 7:46 pm 7:46 pm
Why is every posting about the Clintons? It’s only his name on the Building, donors are people wanting a Library, Bill nor Hillary sold the list. It’s about the management selling the names on the list! Money going for a Library is NOT like money going into someone’s pocket. Get real folks, this has nothing to do with Bill or Hillary, unless you want to ASSUME IT MEANS SOMETHING!
Posted by: able | November 19, 2007, 7:51 pm 7:51 pm
What does it have to do with Bill or Hillary? It’s his name on the BUILDING!
Posted by: able | November 19, 2007, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
I wonder if they included the names of the felons that were pardoned and coincidentally became huge doners. God I hope Hillary wins the dems nomination.
Posted by: Scott | November 19, 2007, 7:54 pm 7:54 pm
WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE, it’s only Clinton’s name on the building, HE didn’t sell them. The management did, and there’s nothing to find in the donor’s list, it’s money that DIDN’T go into anyone’s bank-account. It couldn’t have financed one penny’s worth of “Political Favor”.
Posted by: able | November 19, 2007, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm
Who cares??? I’m just glad he’s gone!!
Posted by: Terry Sullins | November 19, 2007, 8:13 pm 8:13 pm
Our government is corrupt, period! Who do these politicians answer to? Are they above the Law?
Posted by: James Serra | November 19, 2007, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
I think I am going to run for president. I will have 4 answers for every question, if I cant find an answer, I will have a question planted (like in Iowa). I will hide my past so nobody knows what I REALLY stand for.–Sincerly or not- Hillariuos Clinton. —————I hope she wins the Dem nomination too.
Posted by: Ed- Madison WI | November 19, 2007, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
For the ignorant who questions, “huh, what’s the big deal?” let’s say we’re interested in a couple of things: a) which foreign and leftist connections gave money to Clinton for the library, which may or may not have gone to the purpose of the contribution, but rather a future campaign, since there is a difference. b) Neither Barbara Bush, nor Nancy Reagan are running for president; therefore neither the need to know, nor the desire to know is enough to fill your eye dropper, so waiting on H.W.Bush & Reagan disclosures is a really asinine arguement in this case.
Blue dress democrats can not be convinced and are devoted to continuing to cover up and protect the Clintons from any question, since she’s a girl and he’s a charasmatic has-been, both whose time is past.
Posted by: Rita | November 19, 2007, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
How long will it take for the public to realize that “team Clinton” (him and her) are criminals? None of these revealations should surprise anyone.
Posted by: Sam Russo | November 19, 2007, 10:44 pm 10:44 pm
Oh, to able: “he’s coming back!!!
Posted by: Sam Russo | November 19, 2007, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm
Wow…Iove reading you people that defend any of these political banditos. They are ALL a bunch of bleeping crooks and sell outs. They (poLIEticians, big biz etc.) are willing to sell OUR souls for the power they fiend for…to anyone. Doesn’t matter if it is selling our technology to the Chineses or taking money from terror sponsoring royal Arabian families. We are being led to the slaughter and it is our elected leaders and their CEO buddies that are responsibe. Who cares if it is Clinton or Bush? Why do you people defend these political parties? Lastly, liberals are a bunch of phonies…you can keep Clinton and Gore as your heroes. I hope the ACLU eventually destroys any shred of dignity that we once had as Americans and then liberals will see what a bunch of fools they are. In fact, they are probably fighting for the right of a terrorist to take pics of the Empire State Building, or maybe even fighting for their right to have the blueprints! Actually, they are probably fighting for the right of pedophiles to sexually abuse kids.
Posted by: JB | November 19, 2007, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
HO, HO, YEA TO SUPPORTS OF CLINTON!
dEAF, BLIND, AND ONLY EMOTIONAL, THEY DO NOT READ FACTS THAT COUNTER THEIR EMOTIONS.
OF COURSE BILL MADE MONEY, SELLING, PARDONS, PROMISES, ETC. THEY WANT MONEY & POWER NOW!
UMM, DID YOU KNOW THAT ALL THE CLOTHING, JEWLERY, ETC. DONATED TO HILLARY, SHE PUT IN LIBRARY SO SHE CAN CHECK THEM OUT WHEN SHE WANTS & DID NOT HAVE TO CLAIM VALUE. sHE IS SNEAKY.
YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR HERSELF, AND PAY GIANT TAXES, & HERSELF, CONTROLLING YOU? wHY? SHE (RIGHT OUT OF MARX’S BOOK) PROMISED TO TAKE THINGS AWAY FROM YOU FOR “COMMON GOOD”, AMERICANS HAVE TOO MANY FREEDOMS, FREE MARKET SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK” ETC.
WHY, WOULD ANYONE VOTE FOR “I CANNOT RECALL”, ETC. VERY SCARY !!!!!
BET NEWS FOLKS WILL NOT PUBLISH THIS???? WONDER?
Posted by: sue WINN | November 19, 2007, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
Why do living Presidents have libraries of them self? I can only see it as their egos are too big to have a life of a common american. It can also lead to corruption like the total disregard of the Clintons. They never have to answer to no one. A library should only be considered 50 years after their (the Presidents) death. That way only the really good presidents get one.
Posted by: Ed | November 20, 2007, 2:04 am 2:04 am
What’s this got to do with Bill Clinton?The article says it’s kept secret so the sitting President doesn’t show favoritism to contributors, it’s probably still a secret because his wife is still in politics. I don’t see where “the Clintons” have done anything wrong, maybe the management of the library….Is everyone so angry with the Clintons that they use this article to spread more hatred about them?
Posted by: able | November 20, 2007, 3:57 am 3:57 am
WHAT’S the use, some people are going to make it sound like a Clinton Scandal, read the article again.
Posted by: able | November 20, 2007, 5:53 am 5:53 am
Why is something all right when Republicans and completely wrong when a Democrat does it?
It seems to me that the definition of criminally insane – that being the inability of someone to know the difference between right and wrong, easily applies to most of the Republican party.
Posted by: Samantha Stickers | November 20, 2007, 11:21 am 11:21 am
The Clintons are the worst the country has seen in it’s history.It seem that the slezy ones just keep slidding and getting away with more and more. Personally I can’t see the attraction with Bill or Hillary. Their just such liars. What do we do when we meet those kind of people in our own lives. If your smart you have nothing to do with them again, because you know they will do it again. People need to get smart.
Posted by: Fred DeFelice | November 20, 2007, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
It’s the silly season again. There’s a lot of misinformation to unpack in this story from a whole understanding-a-business angle.
Renting and exchanging lists is standard direct mail practice. You can rent (note: as a rule, lists are rented for one-time use, not “bought”) or “exchange” (if you have names to swap back) lists of donors to candidates and causes on both sides of the political spectrum. And you can rent lists of catalog buyers, subscribers, and even individuals who are in the public records as homeowners or what have you. You can like it or not like it, but it’s a business and not an invention of the Clintons.
Renting and exchanging lists is one of the most cost-effective ways for organizations to find new donors. You don’t stand on a street corner and hope people will find you and write you a check, you go out and ask for their support (ie rent names and mail something to them).
So, to flip this the other way, a Republican candidate will likely rent names from gun rights, anti-gay and anti-abortion organizations. What’s the big deal? Are donors to the Eagle Forum somehow “buying” favors from whatever Republican candidate is renting their names?
Posted by: ExDirectMailPro | November 20, 2007, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
The comments I read are missing the point. Obviously this isn’t illegal, but because it can entail donating to a sitting president, it smells bad. It does seem unfair to write this about Clinton when it’s been normal practice for both parties, but that doesn’t make it better. It just means it isn’t a partisan issue. I can also see that donors who were promised anonymity, and did nothing illegal, have a right to stay anonymous. The right course is to close this loophole, and require presidential libraries to disclose their donors. Since this is a change of the law, it seems fair to grandfather in the anonymity of anyone who has made a presidential library donation so far (including to W), but the loophole should be closed as soon as possible.
Posted by: Eric Ferguson | November 20, 2007, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
The Clinton’s have been sell us out for years now so what news.
Posted by: Curtis Bartley | November 20, 2007, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
Just how many Libraries do we need. Will they have two if she wins? Does anyone go to these Libraries and study?
Posted by: Ed Prather | November 20, 2007, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
The former President! There are not enough men on this God’s green earth that will believe in him for majority of men have spines that dictate jelousey and control..I know more women that still woud have put him in the whitehouse door for most of us who h ave been under scrutiny from saying no to a man, He is the only man that has stood up for the underdog..not because he is wrong but because He the Former President takes a stand….most men I see talk and tuck their tails…so trully, decency left the white house since our morality issue became center stage..take a look at Washington today..take a ral look cloosely at the home boy who looked so perfect for the pick of the crop…we have not learned to judge by virtue of honest undertakings, but rather by the persecution of undertakings to destroy one man for the good of barbaric thoughts of our own humane existance…Apachecheynne
Posted by: Apachecheynne | November 20, 2007, 7:41 pm 7:41 pm
After reading much of the comments about the Clinton era..and others..we are our worst enemies because we don’t want to forgive those that make it..so how would you want to be forgiven of your morales..oh, forgot too many americans have perfect morales, and sound judgments…What do you say ABC..you can bring the news out so their is no biasness but really look at who would do for the person on the street first..I vote Clinton would..Apachecheynne
Posted by: Apachecheynne | November 20, 2007, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm
so call bribes (donation) from other countries means favors.example china,where do most of our products that we buy come from,china why isn’t our goverment doing anything about all the products that are causing health problems to our people. if you had a company that made dangerous products the goverment would shut you down.why are we still importing from china? (donation)
Posted by: Hector | November 23, 2007, 10:47 pm 10:47 pm
Folks, remember, this is a NEWS story. Having written them, I can let you in on the secret. The point of a story is to give you as little info as possible, and to mislead you into caring about something you’d never think twice about otherwise. In an election year, people running for office want to get their name in front of the populace. That’s all this is for. News sells advertising. It is rarely reported for truth, justice, and/or the American way.
Posted by: gameacham | November 24, 2007, 10:19 am 10:19 am
Uh-oh, looks like ABC has become part of the vast right-wing conspiracy, along with anyone else who has a bad word to say about the Clintons. Prepare for an assault by bawlin’ puffy eyed leftists.
Posted by: some guy | November 24, 2007, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
Freedom! We speak of ugliness throughout this Nation..because our Leaders sold us through laundering means of exchange..Now look at the price we pave…No administration has been able to maintain without configuration of someone or in lieu of something..Whether it be Rebulican or Democrat..does it matter anymore..War is on our shores..War of families, war of friends, war of uniforms, wars that one United can not mend…This will continue for the price of life..I saw it before the men engaged in this fight..so much one can not begin to channel good without interpretation of evil…to what have we become..for vengeance is so great through our own American plates..Truth and Justice is a far cry now as we engage in continual fighting…Tell us ABC as you uncover much hypocrasey…How do you bring a Nation together…What happened to the Japenes when Hiroshema was..Its now up to us to band together to form a solidarity of Brother…But when..after more of our men are slaughtered…Suggestion! Open the coliseums for the People…Let the People come for the fate is in our own hands..as we seperate the good and bad..the News media like any other has a strength to dominate..but what will it provide besides uncover escapes for the ones who are reaping benefits for our mistakes…For the People By the People…Where are we now! Apachecheynne
Posted by: Apachecheynne | November 26, 2007, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
First Off, I find it amusing that ABC and various other media companies choose to throw this up during election season. I am not a Clinton fan, but the charges here are so stupid and reflective of how bad our press has become. We have a trillion dollar trade deficit, 400 Billion dollar budget gap, a credit mess, $100 a barrel oil, a housing depression, our education system is the worst in the western world. Did I leave out we manaufacturer close to nothing besides stories that mean practically nothing. America wake up and start dealing with the problems, instead of sliding into the trivial.
Posted by: Taxmeless | November 28, 2007, 9:26 am 9:26 am
Really America media deal with the many problems facing us, and stop with the trivial. The world is not about gameboys, sports and lottery tickets
Posted by: Taxmeless | November 28, 2007, 9:29 am 9:29 am
Aw, what’s so bad about selling a list? They also sell beer and bait and have a pool room in the back, it says on the internet
Posted by: tah | January 16, 2008, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm
marc rich!
Posted by: beatrice klein | February 7, 2008, 11:35 am 11:35 am
No no no, this must all be wrong. Hillary says that she’s totally “vetted,” remember?
Posted by: fjfjdvdv | April 3, 2008, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm
Doug L ,you are so right .Time for a change it is pretty scary how this country has been run for years time to get someone in the White House who can start a new for all of us Not just the rich.
Posted by: h | April 3, 2008, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
It never stops with these clintons! They will do anything for money and power. Truly laughable.
Posted by: Mike | April 3, 2008, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm