Questions Linger Over Bill Clinton's International Work, Lugar Says

Nov. 30, 2008 — -- With Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., poised to accept the secretary of state nomination, Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Jack Reed, D-R.I., responded this morning to a new conflict of interest deal brokered between former President Bill Clinton and President-elect Barack Obama's transition team.

Lugar, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, explained that while he supports Sen. Clinton for secretary of state, he has lingering concerns surrounding her husband's international work. "I would vote in favor of Sen. Clinton," he said in "This Week" interview with George Stephanopoulos.

"I suspect, however, that I'm not alone in suggesting that there will be questions raised, and probably legitimate questions."

As part of the deal, former President Clinton has agreed to restrictions on his activities at the Clinton Foundation. In addition to disclosing all of his contributors, the former president will separate his Clinton Global Initiative from the Clinton Foundation and end any Clinton Global Initiative meetings outside the United States.

He will also submit any future speeches, projects or consulting contracts to Department of State ethics officials for review.

"I think it's a big step," Lugar added. "I don't know how, given all of our ethics standards now, anyone quite measures up to this who has such cosmic ties. But I think the Obama campaign people have done a good job in trying to pin down the most important elements."

But when asked what more President Clinton could do to clear himself of any conflicts of interest, Lugar explained, "I don't know, frankly... I would just suspect that given all of the ties, all of the influence that he has, all of the relationships that he is a major player in foreign policy. Now, Mrs. Clinton is going to be the secretary of state. They are married, they are a team."

In the same interview, Reed, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and top adviser to Obama, expressed his approval of the agreement. "I think this arrangement sets up a framework of transparency and disclosure. And I think that's a significant and important aspect of the confirmation process for Mrs. Clinton, Sen. Clinton."