EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea Clinton runs from questions about handing back Harvey Weinstein’s tainted $250,000 donations - and her father deploys security to keep the Press away
Chelsea Clinton fled to her car to avoid answering questions from a DailyMail.com reporter about if the Clinton Foundation will return Weinstein's donations
Clinton, a board member of the Foundation, ran while she was attending a Clinton Global Initiative University event in Northeastern University in Boston
The night prior, Clinton Foundation press officials blocked a DailyMail.com reporter from approaching Bill Clinton to ask him questions at a public event
On Friday night, Bill Clinton gave the opening address for the CGI University conference, and led a conversation with a panel of activists
Bill Clinton did not take questions during the event, and press access was tightly restricted
Weinstein has given between $100,000 and $250,000 to the foundation, according to its records
By Alana Goodman For Dailymail.com
PUBLISHED: 15:10 EDT, 14 October 2017 | UPDATED: 17:04 EDT, 14 October 2017
Chelsea Clinton fled to her car to avoid answering questions from a DailyMail.com reporter on Saturday about whether the Clinton Foundation will return up to $250,000 in donations from accused rapist Harvey Weinstein.
The former first daughter, who is a board member of the Clinton Foundation, ran from questions while she was attending a Clinton Global Initiative University event in Northeastern University in Boston.
The night before, Clinton Foundation press officials blocked a DailyMail.com reporter attempting to approach Bill Clinton to ask him questions at a public event.
Chelsea Clinton fled to her car to avoid answering questions from a DailyMail.com about if the Clinton Foundation will return Weinstein's donations
Bill and Chelsea were at Northeastern University to chair the Clinton Global Initiative University’s annual student conference.
A number of Democratic politicians and groups, including the University of Southern California, have said they will return donations from Weinstein after he was accused of sexual assault, harassment or rape by over two dozen women.
Hillary Clinton said earlier this week she would return Weinstein’s donations to her 2016 campaign. The disgraced movie producer gave over $30,000 to the Hillary Victory Fund and $5,400 to Hillary for America.
But the Clinton Foundation has declined to comment on whether it will return Weinstein’s donations. Weinstein has given between $100,000 and $250,000 to the foundation, according to its records.
The Foundation declines to come clean on how much individual donors give.
‘Chelsea, will the foundation give back the donations from Harvey Weinstein?’ a DailyMail.com reporter asked Chelsea as she left a CGI lunch event through a side door on Saturday. ‘Do you plan to return the $100,000?’
Chelsea, flanked by Clinton Foundation officials, looked straight ahead and ignored the questions as she scurried through the side lot and ducked into her waiting black sedan. Security blocked the reporter from approaching her car.
Earlier in the day, Chelsea had ducked the same questions from DailyMail.com after her car dropped her off at the front of the building. When she left the event, Chelsea departed through the isolated side door as her car idled next to it, seemingly to give her a chance to flee quickly.
Bill and Chelsea were at Northeastern University to chair the Clinton Global Initiative University’s annual student conference
The Clinton Foundation has taken pains to avoid answering press questions about its relationship with Weinstein and whether it has any intentions of returning his six-figure contributions.
On Friday night, Bill Clinton gave the opening address for the CGI University conference, and led a conversation with a panel of activists.
Clinton did not take questions during the event, and press access was tightly restricted.
Two Clinton Foundation communications officials physically blocked a DailyMail.com reporter who was credentialed for the event and threatened to call security when the reporter attempted to approach Clinton at the end of the event, while he was speaking to audience members near the stage.
After the officials asked the reporter and a photographer to leave, another official followed them out to ensure they left the venue.
The CGI University conference brought together thousands of student activist to discuss issues ranging from sexual assault to sustainable energy, and included keynotes and panel discussions with Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton and Madeleine Albright.
The conference is a project of the Clinton Foundation, and a spin-off of the foundation’s annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting which brings together entrepreneurs, philanthropists, executives, and progressive activists.
The Clinton Foundation said after the 2016 election that it was ending CGI, but would continue to sponsor CGI University.
At least seven Democrats and the Democratic National Committee stepped forward to say they are returning Weinstein’s campaigns donations or re-gifting them to charity.
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker, both considered likely contenders for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, said they will donate Weinstein’s contributions to charity.
Senators Al Franken, Kristen Gillibrand, Richard Blumenthal, and Martin Heinrich also vowed to return the money.
The Democratic National Committee, which received over $250,000 from Weinstein since 2003, also said it would donate $30,000 to women’s groups.
Weinstein maxed out his political contributions to Clinton with a $5,400 check to her 2016 campaign and $30,000 to her Hillary Victory Fund. He was also a prolific bundler for Clinton and hosted fundraising events where celebrity guests paid thousands to meet with the presidential candidate.
Weinstein also gave between $100,000 and $250,000 to the Clinton Foundation – joining other controversial donors, including convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and ex-MF Global CEO Jon Corzine.
Last week, the University of Southern California announced that it was rejecting a $5 million endowment from Weinstein to fund a program to support women filmmakers.
Read more: dailymail.co.uk
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook |
