Clinton Foundation exec sought diplomatic passport from Clinton State Dept.

Judicial Watch today released 510 pages of new State Department documents. The documents include a request by Clinton Foundation executive Doug Band for diplomatic passports for himself and an associate.

The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (22 CFR 51.3) limits the granting of diplomatic passports to members of the Foreign Service, their family members, or those working on U.S. government contracts. Clearly, Band and his associate were not entitled to diplomatic passports.

However, Huma Abedin, to whom Band made his request, responded by saying: “Ok. Will figure it out.” This is how Band’s email read:

From: Doug Band

To: Huma Abedin

Sent: Jul 27, 2009 10:32 AM

Subject:

Need get me/ justy and jd dip passports

We had them years ago but they lapsed and we didn’t bother getting them

This is how Abedin responded:

From: Huma Abedin [[email protected]]

Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 10:38:39 PM

To: Doug Band

Subject: Re:

Ok will figure it out.

Did Abedin get diplomatic passports for Band and his pal? I don’t know.

But even if she didn’t, it’s shocking (or should be) that Abedin would entertain the idea. She should have flatly rejected it. However, the Clinton Foundation was sufficiently intertwined with the Clinton State Department that Abedin duly promised to figure out how to accommodate Band.

The emails released by Judicial Watch contain additional material of interest. They show Hillary Clinton forwarding classified information to Abedin’s unsecured, non-state.gov account. They also show that Bill Clinton sought to arrange to have his wife meet a major donor.

Then, there’s an email exchange that starts with Sidney Blumenthal proposing a Clinton Global Initiative meeting in Ireland. Hillary forwarded Blumenthal’s email to Abedin, Cheryl Mills, and Doug Band saying, “I think this is a good idea and see no conflict.” Band then responded that he and Bill Clinton think it is as “great idea.”

Hillary’s involvement in this matter seems inconsistent with this pledge she took as Secretary of State:

For the duration of my appointment as Secretary if I am confirmed, I will not participate personally and substantially in any particular matter involving specific parties in which The William J. Clinton Foundation (or the Clinton Global Initiative) is a party or represents a party.

Judicial Watch has more on the problematic material in the latest batch of released emails.

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