Financial records show 2 special envoys are well-heeled

WASHINGTON -- Two diplomats appointed recently to run key aspects of President Obama's foreign policy earned hefty fees last year consulting for financial firms and giving speeches, their newly released financial disclosure statements show.

Richard Holbrooke, the State Department's envoy in charge of Afghanistan and Pakistan policy, was paid nearly $1.7 million in 2008 for speeches, consulting, work at a private equity fund and service on the board of American International Group (AIG), which has received $180 billion in federal aid to prevent its collapse, according to his disclosure statement.

Dennis Ross, a "special adviser" whose portfolio includes Iran, was paid $818,000 in 2008, his disclosure statement shows. Ross, a former U.S. envoy to the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, took in $421,775 for speeches, including $214,605 from Israeli and Jewish groups, the disclosure form shows.

The disclosure statements were released by the State Department late Friday in response to a long-standing request by USA TODAY. Officials said disclosure forms for two other senior diplomats, Middle East envoy George Mitchell and North Korea envoy Stephen Bosworth, were still being reviewed.

Under federal ethics law, U.S. government executives are required to report outside income and list their assets in ranges. Most senior Obama administration officials disclosed their finances in January as part of their Senate confirmation process. But the four special envoys were not subject to confirmation and did not make public their disclosures.

Holbrooke's disclosure puts him among the wealthiest members of the Obama administration. His assets, valued on the form at between $17.9 million and $63.3 million, include fractional ownership in a private jet and homes in Manhattan, Colorado ski country and a Long Island beach resort.

Holbrooke also reported holding options to buy 17,500 shares of stock in AIG, which almost collapsed in September. His lawyer, Dick Beattie, pointed out that they became worthless after AIG's stock plummeted.