Presidential races

Clinton Foundation was subpoenaed

The State Department’s Office of Inspector General issued a subpoena to the Clinton Foundation last fall as part of an investigation into projects that may have required federal approval during Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of State, according to The Washington Post.

The subpoena asked for records related to longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin, who for several months in 2012 was simultaneously employed by the Clinton Foundation, the State Department and a private consulting firm with ties to the Clintons.

{mosads}Abedin’s work arrangement was approved after she was designated a “special government employee.”

In its report, the Post cited people familiar with the subpoena and written correspondence about it. The full scope of the investigation is unclear.

Last month, Clinton denied a Fox News report that the FBI had expanded its probe of her private email server to include ties between the State Department and her foundation, calling it “an unsourced, irresponsible” report with “no basis” in fact.

Republican lawmakers have accused Clinton of allowing large donations from foreign governments to the foundation to influence her decisionmaking as secretary of State.

Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, has largely refused to raise the issue. But last spring he did express concern that the Clinton Foundation was part of a political system “dominated by money.”

Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who led the foundation while his wife was serving as secretary of State, have denied any wrongdoing.

Representatives for Hillary Clinton, the Clinton Foundation, the State Department and Abedin declined to comment for the report.