Clinton donor received top spot on State Department intel board

[Morphine Prince 109,998]

Washington (CNN) - A major political donor to the Clintons and other top Democrats was selected by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to serve on a key State Department intelligence board in 2011, despite having no clear background in the area, according to emails released this week.

Rajiv Fernando has donated $9,400 to Clinton's two White House bids -- first her 2008 run and again this year -- and has been a generous donor to Democrats running for the House and Senate and to President Barack Obama.

Fernando, a Chicago securities trader, has also been a prolific donor to the Clinton Foundation, giving at least $1 million to the organization, according to its website.

In July 2011, Fernando was appointed to a seat on the International Security Advisory Board (ISAB), a panel filled with top-level foreign policy advisers and security experts. Former Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart chairs the current panel, which includes retired generals, the former chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other high-ranking national security experts.

As a member of the top-level group, Fernando was granted a Top Secret security clearance and given access to highly sensitive information.

Fernando, professional State Department staff noted, seemed an awkward selection for the group and spurred concern when an ABC News reporter inquired about him in 2011.

"We must protect the secretary's and under secretary's name, as well as the integrity of the board. I think it's important to get down to the bottom of this before there's any response," Jamie Mannina, a State Department official, wrote in an August 15, 2011, email obtained by the conservative group Citizens United and released to CNN.

An aide, Wade Boese, replied that night that Clinton chief of staff Cheryl Mills had added Fernando's name to the list of appointees approved by Clinton. "The true answer is that S staff (Cheryl Mills) added him. The board's membership preceded me. Raj was not on the list sent to S; he was added at their insistence," Boese wrote. "S" refers to Clinton, ABC News reported.

Full story: http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/10/politics/hillary-clinton-donor-rajiv-fernando/

 

[En_Sabah_Nur 9,366]

I was just about to read the political threads on here & see if anyone had posted about this as of yet?!  lol 

 

[Redstreak 6,653]

This is huge and it has one reply  

[Bebe 17,289]

Oh my, how surprising 

Super shocked 

Hillary Clinton is part of the establishment? 

Here I was thinking she was a progressive anti-establishment candidate fighting for the people and fighting against corporate interests running the political system... Never would have guessed that those donations influenced her in some way.... who would have thought that those donating to Hillary Clinton expect favours or like a return on their investment?

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

46 minutes ago, Redstreak said:

This is huge and it has one reply  

Yeah this was huge in 2011... the media digging up old stories  

The irony in college students making a big deal out of a person being hired without much expertise in a field  

This was a case of Clinton using her influence. Show me a politician who hasn't. Hell show me how "machinations" do not enter in any career path ever. Y'all should know that relationship building is a major way to get ahead in your career 

In any case it's a reach attempting to establish a correlation between clump donations and receiving a spot when it's circumstantial evidence at best given that the website does not state when the donations were made and are cumulative up to today. 

How shocking that someone with a clearly positive relationship with Clinton was squeezed late  into the short list for a position at an unpaid volunteer job whose only requirement was a security clearance.  

The same article quotes that he was "one of the hardest-working members, he was doing all the reading, he was studying, he was asking questions. I think he would have ended up being a good member of the board."

The guy was very proficient in tech, something that could have clearly been useful on the job. 

I suppose she endangered national security this time too?  

P.S. The transparent bump  And you tell me you have no animus lmao 

[Morphine Prince 109,998]

1 minute ago, LebaneseDude said:

.

Love your avi of Hillary deleting those classified email from her phone 

 

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

Just now, Morphine Prince said:

Love your avi of Hillary deleting those classified email from her phone 

 

It's the famous blackberry 

[Redstreak 6,653]

21 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

Yeah this was huge in 2011... the media digging up old stories  

The irony in college students making a big deal out of a person being hired without much expertise in a field  

This was a case of Clinton using her influence. Show me a politician who hasn't. Hell show me how "machinations" do not enter in any career path ever. Y'all should know that relationship building is a major way to get ahead in your career 

In any case it's a reach attempting to establish a correlation between clump donations and receiving a spot when it's circumstantial evidence at best given that the website does not state when the donations were made and are cumulative up to today. 

How shocking that someone with a clearly positive relationship with Clinton was squeezed late  into the short list for a position at an unpaid volunteer job whose only requirement was a security clearance.  

The same article quotes that he was "one of the hardest-working members, he was doing all the reading, he was studying, he was asking questions. I think he would have ended up being a good member of the board."

The guy was very proficient in tech, something that could have clearly been useful on the job. 

I suppose she endangered national security this time too?  

P.S. The transparent bump  And you tell me you have no animus lmao 

Some of us don't spend all day on the internet. I've been out all day with a friend and just now looked at this sub

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

1 minute ago, Redstreak said:

Some of us don't spend all day on the internet. I've been out all day with a friend and just now looked at this sub

K.

[Redstreak 6,653]

7 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

K.

 

On 6/6/2016 at 1:40 AM, LebaneseDude said:

You're trying to frame me as an aggressor here. Not happening  

 

[Bebe 17,289]

6 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

The irony in college students making a big deal out of a person being hired without much expertise in a field  

Yeah this was huge in 2011... the media digging up old stories  

How shocking that someone with a clearly positive relationship with Clinton was squeezed late  into the short list for a position at an unpaid volunteer job whose only requirement was a security clearance.  

The same article quotes that he was "one of the hardest-working members, he was doing all the reading, he was studying, he was asking questions. I think he would have ended up being a good member of the board."

In any case it's a reach attempting to establish a correlation between clump donations and receiving a spot when it's circumstantial evidence at best given that the website does not state when the donations were made and are cumulative up to today. 

I suppose she endangered national security this time too?  

This was a case of Clinton using her influence. Show me a politician who hasn't.  

P.S. The transparent bump  And you tell me you have no animus lmao 

I don't think anybody would expect a college student to work as the nuclear weapons advisor for the secretary of state  Nobody would think that's reasonable. 

The media isn't digging up old stories, while this was a story in 2011, new emails have been released.

I don't believe you are really naive enough to not think there was anything fishy about this.

"The appointment qualified Fernando for one of the highest levels of top secret access, the emails show. Among those with whom Fernando served on the International Security Advisory Board was David A. Kay, the former head of the Iraq Survey Group and United Nations Chief Weapons Inspector; Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft, a former National Security Advisor to two presidents; two former congressmen; and former Sen. Chuck Robb. William Perry, the former Secretary of Defense, chaired the panel.

“It is certainly a serious, knowledgeable and experienced group of experts,” said Bruce Blair, a Princeton professor whose principal research covers the technical and policy steps on the path toward the verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons. “Much of the focus has been on questions of nuclear stability and the risks of nuclear weapons use by Russia and Pakistan"

You don't think it's crazy that among all these leading experts, Hillary appointed someone who was completely unqualified? I mean even forgetting for a moment that he spent a lot of money on her campaign, that's really strange.

Nobody knew who he was, he lacked any known background in nuclear security. Nobody could justify why he was on the panel... Not even Fernando himself.... 

"The newly released emails reveal that after ABC News started asking questions in August 2011, a State Department official who worked with the advisory board couldn’t immediately come up with a justification for Fernando serving on the panel. His and other emails make repeated references to “S”; ABC News has been told this is a common way to refer to the Secretary of State.

“The true answer is simply that S staff (Cheryl Mills) added him,” wrote Wade Boese, who was Chief of Staff for the Office of the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, in an email to Mannina, the press aide. “Raj was not on the list sent to S; he was added at their insistence.”"

Even beyond that:

"About six months after Fernando resigned from the State Department advisory board, he was invited to attend a White House State Dinner, honoring the British Prime Minister. And this summer Fernando will serve as a super delegate at the Democratic National Convention. According to Chicago media reports, he has committed to supporting Clinton."

That doesn't seem weird? Even when you say it's circumstantial evidence that links him being appointed to his donations, what other possible evidence could you want?? Why do you think someone with 0 experience was appointed to such a high position? 


Staff were asked to " stall with ABC News" and other reporters.... Fernando resigned just 4 days after the initial ABC inquiry.... It's pretty ****ing suspicious let's be real.

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

40 minutes ago, Bebe said:

I don't think anybody would expect a college student to work as the nuclear weapons advisor for the secretary of state  Nobody would think that's reasonable. 

Well he wasn't a college student. He was a leader of a a major tech company. His knowledge of the material was never stated. In fact it blatantly ignores that he had dealt with foreign investment so it is hardly a stretch for him to have intimate knowledge of key political facts.

Also the claims of "foreign policy experience" are being exaggerated. The article selects the most experienced of the bunch but fails to also state that the board also contains members of various other fields with just as limited relevance to the nuclear portion as others.

Considering he dealt extensively with risk management, I don't see the stretch.

It's also an unpaid volunteer job. This is just an advisory board to the Secretary of State.  It is in no way a political entity that has the right to enforce or implement anything.

You're acting like this was some kind of important position or something. It literally meets up with the SoS once every three months to advise it. Who knows what kind of input he would have had  

By the way, since this incident, Raj has been involved with several foreign policy affairs. He currently serves on the Foreign Policy Leadership Committee at the Brookings Institution, the Board of Directors for the American Security Project and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

So it's clear he wanted in on this.

40 minutes ago, Bebe said:

The media isn't digging up old stories, while this was a story in 2011, new emails have been released.

This is an old story that is being revived thanks to the e-mails. I'm pretty sure everyone knew the political machinations were involved. Didn't need e-mails for that. This is just reigniting the kindling.

----

I read the article. Why are you quoting its entirety to me? 

How about you do your own rational analysis rather than regurgitate and validate what you read? 

It's not crazy to believe anything. A friend of Hillary wanted in on a position that was available. She used her influence to get him on it. It's not even one with serious ramifications  You are completely overblowing  the relevance of this. 

It's not a "high position". It's a position with high security clearance requirements that he passed because he's an American and not a national enemy. It's a volunteer unpaid role on an advisory board.to the SoS herself.  

40 minutes ago, Bebe said:

"About six months after Fernando resigned from the State Department advisory board, he was invited to attend a White House State Dinner, honoring the British Prime Minister. And this summer Fernando will serve as a super delegate at the Democratic National Convention. According to Chicago media reports, he has committed to supporting Clinton."

That doesn't seem weird? Even when you say it's circumstantial evidence that links him being appointed to his donations, what other possible evidence could you want?? Why do you think someone with 0 experience was appointed to such a high position? 


Staff were asked to " stall with ABC News" and other reporters.... Fernando resigned just 4 days after the initial ABC inquiry.... It's pretty ****ing suspicious let's be real.

Yes Hillary had this 6 years in the planning for one superdelegate. What a mastermind she is.  

-----

The only suspicious thing is how dead set many of you are on using every single article that's going to come out in the next 5 months as justifications to hate Hillary.

I'm telling you now that it's likely that Hillary has done far more dubious things than this, and I'm sure we'll be seeing more in the months to come

Well guess what? Sanders would have faced the same **** as this, but unlike you I wouldn't be posting arguments about how much of a hypocritical opportunist he is every time I saw a negative article about him after he had won because I would be on his side, not agreeing with Trump.  

Not going to validate this non-story anymore. Feel free to use an example of a machination as a reason to hate her I guess. RIP any politician tbh. Hell RIP any person with a career  

[Bebe 17,289]

35 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

Well he wasn't a college student. He was a leader of a a tech company. His knowledge of the material was never stated in the article. 

Also the claims of "foreign policy experience" are being exaggerated. The article selects the most experienced of the bunch but fails to also state that the board also contains members of various other fields. 

It's also an unpaid volunteer job. This is just an advisory board. It is in no way a political entity that has the right to enforce or implement anything.

You're acting like this was some kind of important position or something. It literally meets up with the SoS once every three months to advise it. Who knows what kind of input he would have had  

This is an old story that is being revived thanks to the e-mails. I'm pretty sure everyone knew the political machinations were involved. Didn't need e-mails for that. This is just reigniting the kindling.

----

I read the article. Why are you quoting its entirety to me? 

How about you do your own rational analysis rather than regurgitate and validate what you read? 

It's not crazy to believe anything. A friend of Hillary wanted in on a position that was available. She used her influence to get him on it. It's not even one with serious ramifications  You are completely overblowing  the relevance of this. 

It's not a "high position". It's a position with high security clearance requirements that he passed because he's an American and not a national enemy. It's a volunteer unpaid role on an advisory board. 

Yes Hillary had this 6 years in the planning for one superdelegate. What a mastermind she is.  

-----

The only suspicious thing is how dead set you and your ilk are on using every single article that's going to come out in the next 5 months as justifications to hate Hillary.

I'm sure Hillary has done far more dubious things than this, and I'm sure we'll be seeing more in the months to come.

Well guess what? Sanders would have faced the same **** as this, but unlike you I wouldn't be posting arguments about how much of a hypocritical opportunist he is every time I saw a negative article about him.  

I wasn't claiming he was a college student so lets not

You are undermining the importance of this role. The International Security Advisory Board (ISAB), a group which oversees US nuclear and security policies. The members of ISAB have top-secret clearances commensurate with their expertise in these fields. The fact that this is an "unpaid role" means nothing and it's a little embarrassing that you would mention it as if it is relevant. It's a sensitive government intelligence advisory board. A seat on that board not only allows you to have advanced knowledge on all U.S foreign policy, but allows you to directly shape it. That's something that could be very useful to somebody who is head of a high frequency trading company....

The literal description the government gives for the ISAB is "The Board provides its recommendations to the Secretary of State. Board members are national security experts with scientific, military, diplomatic, and political backgrounds." He has no scientific, military, diplomatic or political background (unless you consider his giant donations to Clinton and the democratic party as political experience). It's absolutely a pretty high position. 

Also nobody is claiming that he is a threat to national security  Nobody is claiming he wouldn't have been able to pass a security test.... Nobody is saying he is a national enemy 

What I am saying is that the internal response to the probe is embarrassing. No one could come up with an explanation for Fernando’s appointment, even after two days of trying. The best that the combined efforts of State’s legal and executive team could do was to hail Fernando’s “relative youth, enthusiasm, a business perspective, and expertise in cyber security,” a description that would apply to thousands if not millions of mid-level executives in the US.

As soon as they realized that the jig was up, Fernando resigned his post. For five years, this has all been left unexplained, and only a FOIA lawsuit from Citizens United has answered this mystery. Hillary sold access to the ISAB as a payback for political and Clinton Foundation donations. It’s just that simple.

"Yes Hillary had this 6 years in the planning for one superdelegate. What a mastermind she is "

I'm not claiming that or even trying to imply that  I'm saying that a big donor to Hillary Clinton seems to be getting a lot of incredible political favours and that it seems that people loyal to the establishment get rewarded in some pretty impressive ways.

It's funny how you keep  saying he is a 'friend of Hillary' and she is just giving small favours to her friend
"A friend wanted in on a position that was available." Like... he is a major donor to her... not a friend. A 'friend' aka  a major donor wanted in on a position that was available and you see no problems with her giving this 'friend' favours.

"The only suspicious thing is how dead set you and your ilk are on using every single article that's going to come out in the next 5 months as justifications to hate Hillary."

I haven't done any of the sort  I've bitten my tongue and refused to comment on many of the multitude of pro-hillary anti-bernie threads that you have been posting non stop. The irony of you telling me that I am using 'every single article' that's coming out to hate Hillary. I've even f*cking said that I support Hillary in the general election against Trump, like at this point what do you even think my agenda would be for criticising Hillary? What would I gain? What would I be trying to convince people to do?

Maybe it's just that I'm a progressive and against crony establishment politics? 

[Adakam 2]

34 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

 

Yes Hillary had this 6 years in the planning for one superdelegate. What a mastermind she is.  

-----

The only suspicious thing is how dead set many of you are on using every single article that's going to come out in the next 5 months as justifications to hate Hillary.

 

next week itll be something like "Hillary caught using toilet paper she didnt pay for"

[Redstreak 6,653]

10 minutes ago, Adakam said:

next week itll be something like "Hillary caught using toilet paper she didnt pay for"

As if this is ****ing comparable