Clinton foundation to end foreign and corporate donations

Former President Bill Clinton made the announcement at a meeting with foundation staff on Thursday. He said they will also end the annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting regardless of the outcome of the November election.

According to participants at the meeting who spoke to news agency AP, Clinton said the foundation plans to continue its work, but intends to refocus its efforts in a process that will take up to a year to complete and that he will resign from the board.

Clinton said he and his daughter, Chelsea, had not faced any external pressure to make the changes, but wanted to avoid potential issues or second guessing for Hillary Clinton should she move into the White House.

The charitable network - founded after Bill Clinton left office in 2001 - has raised more than $2 billion for initiatives focused on global health, climate change, economic development and increasing opportunities for women and girls.

The foundation - founded in 2002 by Bill Clinton - says on its website that its objectives are to "build partnerships between businesses, non-governmental organizations, governments and individuals everywhere to work faster, leaner, and better; to find solutions that last; and to transform lives and communities from what they are today to what they can be, tomorrow."

Hillary Clinton stepped down from its board after launching her 2016 campaign. But Bill and Chelsea Clinton have remained in leadership roles.

Money accepted from countries such as Saudi Arabia drew scrutiny from both Republicans and Democrats early in Clinton's presidential bid.

The foundation's most recent annual report - for 2015 - lists the foundation's total 2014 revenue at $338 million, including $217.8 million in contributions and $114 million in grants. Some concerns have been raised that special favors may have been done at the State Department for foundation contributors when Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State.

During Clinton's tenure as the US top diplomat, the foundation reached an agreement with the Obama administration to prohibit foreign donations to its programs, but questions persisted.

jbh/kl (AP, Reuters)