Amid controversy over having taken money from foreign governments while Hillary Clinton served as secretary of state, former Clinton U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala will be taking over at the Clinton Foundation.
Shalala is a friend of the Clintons, as well as a former appointee. According to Reuters, “Hiring her to run the foundation puts the charity in the hands of a trusted family ally at a time when Hillary Clinton is mulling a run for president in 2016.”
Former President Clinton founded the foundation in 2001 to focus on global issues such as health and leadership. Media reports in recent months said the foundation took money from foreign governments while Hillary Clinton was U.S. secretary of state, at least once in violation of its ethics agreement with the Obama administration. Green groups have been troubled by the foundation’s ties to energy companies.
In January, former foundation head Eric Braverman stepped down and was replaced temporarily with a longtime Hillary Clinton aide.