A donor named Rajiv Fernando landed an impressive gig at the State Department under Hillary Clinton. Moreover, many are wondering, how did Fernando, a trader, end up on the International Security Advisory Board?
The Clinton email drama has created yet another controversy, this time; it involves a generous donor named Rajiv Fernando.
Media outlets have obtained another batch of emails from Hillary Clinton‘s private server, which she had set up during the time she was a Secretary of State. The emails reveal that many were baffled by the fact that Rajiv Fernando was being considered for a high profile gig.
In 2011, Fernando, who worked as a Chicago securities trader, was given a seat on the prestigious International Security Advisory Board, also known as ISAB. The International Security Advisory Board is a panel, which is composed of a group of leading foreign policy advisers, retired generals, and security experts. Gary Hart is the current chair of the group. In case you are wondering, here is a brief bio of Mr. Hart:
“Gary Warren Hart is an American diplomat, politician, lawyer, author, professor and commentator. He served as a U.S. Senator representing Colorado (1975–1987), and sought the Democratic nomination for President in 1984 and 1988. Hart became an attorney for the United States Department of Justice from 1964 to 1965, and was admitted to the Colorado and District of Columbia bars in 1965. He was special assistant to the solicitor of the United States Department of the Interior from 1965 to 1967. Hart was appointed to be the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland in October 2014.”
In the new batch of emails obtained by reporters, there are several exchanges from employees puzzled by Clinton’s chief of staff Cheryl Mills‘s decision to name him to the post. In one email, Wade Boese, Chief of Staff for the Office of the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, wrote:
“Raj was not on the list sent to [the Secretary of State]; he was added at their insistence.”
An aide added:
“…it appears there is much more to this story that we’re unaware of,” and “it’s natural to ask how he got onto the board when compared to the rest of the esteemed list of members.”
With so many controversies surrounding the matter, he resigned and blamed his career for the decision. In a letter, he said he was leaving because of “unique, unexpected, and excessive volatility in the international market these last few weeks.” Here is a statement issued by David Kay, a former United Nations chief nuclear weapons inspector, whose service on the ISAB, coincided with Fernando’s brief stint:
“I don’t remember the guy at all.”
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement:
“The International Security Advisory Board was established to provide the State Department with independent insight and advice on a broad range of international security matters. The ISAB’s charter stipulates that the board should reflect a balance of backgrounds and points of view. Generally speaking, it’s not unusual for the State Department chief of staff to be involved in personnel matters.Members of the International Security Advisory Board are required to have security clearances. But, as is standard, the department does not comment on individuals’ security clearance status.”
A little digging in Fernando’s finances quickly revealed that he was very kind to the Clintons. Mr. Fernando has donated a total of $9,400 to Clinton’s two White House bids; he gave when she was competing against then-Senator Barack Obama.
Fernando has donated at least $1 million to the Clinton Foundation. He has declined to comment on the story.
