ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos gave $75,000 to Clinton Foundation
ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos on Thursday acknowledged donating $50,000 to the Clinton Foundation, a contribution he did not disclose during recent broadcasts on the Clinton Cash controversy.
The ex-political adviser for former President Clinton gave $25,000 a year in 2012, 2013 and 2014, according to CNN Money.
ABC initially reported Stephanopoulos had donated $50,000, but the anchor forgot his $25,000 gift in 2012, bringing his total donations to $75,000 over three years.
{mosads}“I made charitable donations to the foundation in support of the work they’re doing on global AIDS prevention and deforestation, causes I care about deeply,” Stephanopoulos said in a statement.
“I thought that my contributions were a matter of public record,” he said.
“However, in hindsight, I should have taken the extra step of personally disclosing my donations to my employer and to the viewers on air during the recent news stories about the Foundation,” he added.
Stephanopoulos did not reveal his past donations despite discussing the foundation’s financial dealings in news broadcasts late last month.
The “This Week” host recently interviewed author Peter Schweizer about his new book, Clinton Cash.
The controversial book suggests that foreign governments and interests groups donated to The Clinton Foundation to curry favor with Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of State.
Schweizer’s work has raised questions about Hillary Clinton’s ethics and transparency, as she seeks the Oval Office. Her campaign has dismissed the book as a politically motivated attack.
ABC News defended its broadcaster in a statement to Politico on Thursday.
“As George has said, he made charitable donations to the Foundation to support a cause he cares about deeply and believed his contributions were a matter of public records,” it said.
“He should have taken the extra step to notify us and our viewers during the recent news reports about the Foundation,” it said.
“He’s admitted to an honest mistake and apologized for that omission,” ABC added. “We stand behind him.”
The Clinton Foundation website lists Stephanopoulos as a 2014 grantee who gave between $50,001 and $100,000 total as of that year.
“This list is comprised of those who have made contributions or grants to advance the work of any part of the Clinton Foundation, including the Clinton Global Initiative, and indicates cumulative lifetime giving through 2014,” the website said.
— This story was updated at 3:47 p.m.