By Paul Steinhauser, special correspondent and NH1 News political director March 20 at 4:01 PM
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is calling Hillary Clinton Friday to return gifts given to her family's charitable foundation by foreign countries. Its unseemly, and we shouldnt be taking this money, he told the Washington Post and NH1 News in an interview.
"The Constitution says youre not supposed to take gifts from foreign countries. I think she should return them. I will call in New Hampshire today that Hillary Clinton should return all of her gifts to foreign countries, said the Kentucky senator and all-but-certain presidential candidate.
They say theres a war on women. Well, yeah -- there is in Saudi Arabia. You can be raped in Saudi Arabia, and they put you in jail. You can be raped in Saudi Arabia and they publicly lash you and whip you for being raped," added Paul. "So Hillary Clinton needs to explain why shes taking money from foreign countries that abuse the rights of women, and frankly I think today she should announce that shes going to give the money back.
Asked if he was referring to the former secretary of state or to the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation, the group that received the donations, the senator responded: Tell me the difference.
[Clinton Foundation says not all donations were disclosed]
A senior Paul political adviser said the senator will formally call for Hillary Clinton to return any money received by the Clinton Foundation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at a speech Friday evening at Carroll County, New Hampshire Lincoln Day Dinner.
NH1 has reached out to a Clinton spokesman and a pro-Clinton group for a response.
The Clinton Foundation plays a prominent role in international development, battling HIV/AIDS, providing relief after natural disasters, and helping farmers and entrepreneurs in developing countries across the globe. During Hillary Clintons tenure as secretary of state during President Barack Obamas first term, the foundation refrained from accepting donations from foreign countries, but eased those restrictions after Clinton stepped down as secretary of state in early 2013.
News of the loosening of those donation restrictions became a major story earlier this year, as Clinton moved closer to launching a second bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. Clinton is widely expected to launch a campaign for the White House as early as next month.
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Rand Paul calls on Hillary Clinton to return foreign donations