[Camerota:] The Clinton Foundation announcing a series of major changes that would go into effect if Hillary Clinton is elected president. The foundation, of course, has come under some scrutiny over its practices when Hillary Clinton was secretary of state. Joining us now is the president of the Clinton Foundation, Donna Shalala. She's also served as secretary of health and human services under former President Bill Clinton. Secretary Shala, great to have you here.
[Donna Shalala, President, The Clinton Foundation:] And ran a bunch of universities in between.
[Camerota:] That's right. You have quite the resume.
[Shalala:] I just want to point that out.
[Camerota:] Yes, we are familiar with your credentials. Let's talk about these changes that have now been agreed to by the Clinton Foundation if she is elected president. Let me read them for our viewers. Only accept contributions from U.S. citizens, independent charities. Not accept contributions from foreign individuals, governments, corporations or charities. Former President Bill Clinton would resign from the board of directors. The foundation's international work would transition to other organizations. So, I mean, I guess that begs the question, if this is important, if she's elected president, why weren't these changes necessary when she was secretary of state?
[Shalala:] Well, it was a different situation. There was a process set up to approve foreign donations during that period. But when she's president, there's no process you could set up that would eliminate conflicts of interest. So we actually have to reduce the size of the foundation and what it does. But here's the important point. The president has reinvented philanthropy. Next week we're going to have this huge, annual meeting, the Clinton Global Initiative. It's already had an impact on 400 million people around the world. It brings together corporation, international, many of them, with not for profits. There will be some heads of state there, too. But it does commitments. And each of these corporations steps forward with a not for profit distribute packets, for instance, to clean water, lots of different kinds of initiatives that improve education, and health, and opportunities for people around the world. And in doing that, the president has done a different kind of philanthropy than anyone else has done.
[Camerota:] And I don't think that anybody is disputing that the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative has done great work.
[Shalala:] Great work? Magnificent work.
[Camerota:] Magnificent work around the world for all sorts of people in need. What the problem is, is that there does not seem to have been a real firewall between the Clinton Foundation or CGI and the State Department. And we have all sorts of examples now of the times that those line were crossed. So that's the problem.
[Shalala:] Well, but there was a process set up to make sure those lines were not crossed. So I dispute the
[Camerota:] They failed.
[Shalala:] I I dispute the point because we have protected and during that time we protected the initiatives of the foundation. There's no question about that. But you can't do that when she's president. What you have to do when she's president is we have to actually eliminate any aspect of conflict of interest, so all the international programs they've spun off. What the president has said is, we have to spin them off in a way that doesn't hurt people. The programs have to be seamless in their transition. And what will be left is the centerpiece of the foundation, the library, the Clinton Center in Little Rock, and maybe a couple of domestic programs, ones that helped babies.
[Camerota:] Sure. But, I mean, with all respect, how can you dispute that the lines were crossed. We have evidence of it from the e-mails?
[Shalala:] No, there's no evidence that policy was impacted by anyone's requesting an appointment. So, let me dispute any indication that Mrs. Clinton's behavior on policy was changed in any way. The most important thing is, this is a magnificent foundation that has reinvented philanthropy. From Malawi to Haiti to Cartagena, we're doing spectacular work and we have to make sure that that work continues, but not under the Clinton Foundation's umbrella.
[Camerota:] Let me show you an example of an e-mail that emerged that made people think that lines were crossed. Not policy perhaps but certainly access. This is an e-mail from Doug Band, who, of course, is one of the top executives at the Clinton Foundation, to Huma Abedin, who was at the State Department. Doug Band says, "We need Gilbert Chagoury," he, of course, the Lebanese Nigerian businessman who was looking for a land deal, "to speak to the substance person regarding Lebanon. As you know, he's a key guy there and to us and is loved in Lebanon. Very important." Huma Abedin at the State Department says, "It's Jeff Feltman. I'm sure he knows him. I'll talk to Jeff." Doug Band says, "better if you call him. Now preferable. This is very important."
[Shalala:] And, guess what, that never happened. It never happened.
[Camerota:] But he asked for a favor.
[Shalala:] I don't care I don't care who asked for what, it never happened. It just did not happen.
[Camerota:] But were you comfortable with the Clinton Foundation executives asking State Department for favors and access?
[Shalala:] You know, no one should no one should cross any line. I requesting a courtesy meeting when I was secretary of HHS for instance, by a Republican senator, was not unusual. And any cabinet officer knows that members of your committees will call up and say, hey, listen I've got this guy that's got a way of saving money in health, so will you see them as a favor to me? So
[Camerota:] So business as usual is what you're saying?
[Shalala:] No, and business as usual is not acceptable anymore in government because we have better disclosure that we've ever had before. The Clinton Foundation is totally transparent. You could see our tax returns. You can see who our donors are. We reveal our donors quarterly. You can't find a charity in this world that reveals their donors quarterly.
[Camerota:] I know that you're on record, I think, as saying that Chelsea Clinton should continue on with her role at the Clinton Foundation, even if Hillary Clinton is elected president. Is that right?
[Shalala:] Let's go back to what we've said is going to be the Clinton Foundation in the future, the library, and the Clinton Center in Little Rock, and maybe a couple of small domestic programs. Chelsea decides she wants to stay in the foundation board to keep an eye on her father's library, among other members of the board. I mean the centerpiece is going to be the presidential library. No one is going to tell us to get rid of the presidential library, or to eliminate any kind of formal governance for the presidential library.
[Camerota:] So no conflict of interest in your mind if Chelsea is there and seeking donations or things like that, even if her mom is in the White House?
[Shalala:] Well, but remember what we've said about donations. No foreign governments. No foreign contributors. No foreign foundations. We'll take money from independent foundations for Gates, the people that have been giving it, Rockefeller, people who have been giving us foundations. And from individuals who have contributed to the library and the library has a number of contributors over the years.
[Camerota:] There is a fundraiser coming up I believe tomorrow and it's in honor of President Clinton's birthday and there will be a fundraiser for the Clinton Foundation. But I think you've said that they will not disclose what amount is raised or from whom.
[Shalala:] We will disclose the donors. There's no question about it. We will disclose the donors. We will, as we do on our tax return, disclose the money that we raise. The tax the IRS tells you actually not to connect the donation with the person's name, but we certainly would disclose the donors. And, listen, for that party, I looked at the list, and other than two people, all of them are people who have been annual donors to the foundation and are longtime friends of the president. But two people are my guests who I paid for who are farmers in North Dakota, my twin sister and her husband.
[Camerota:] Sounds fun. Secretary Shalala, thanks so much for all the information and explaining it to us here on
[New Day. Shalala:] You're welcome.
[Camerota:] Great to have you in the studio. Let's get over to Chris.
[Cuomo:] A Busy morning. Busy morning here on NEW DAY, especially as the election is concerned. You've got Hillary Clinton's strong words about hate in the campaign. You've got new revelations about what will happen to the Trump organization if Trump is elected. We're going to discuss all that with David Gregory, next.