The Uranium One accusations are meant to be a distraction by conservative Republicans in Congress. Fox News through many commentators are attempting to make this into a scandal, when the facts argue otherwise- no wrongdoing on the part of the Clinton Foundation, Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton. It is as if Fox News has taken up the book “Clinton Cash” as their bible with all of its false accusations.
The origins of the Uranium One story are an April 23, 2015 report in the New York Times, and details from the Clinton Cash book. As I have stated previously, the problem with the accusation against Bill Clinton’s speaking fee at an investor’s conference, is the timing is all wrong. Clinton was paid in June 2010 and approval occurred in October 2010.
What really puts the Uranium One controversy over the top, is it is recycled trash, first leveled against Bill Clinton in 2008 involving a merger to buy Russian uranium mining rights for Uranium One, then the facts are all re-arranged to make Hillary the target, for her approval of a sale of uranium to Russians. The real truth is not hard to find, as all my sources are out there on the internet.
It wouldn’t seem such a bad thing if uranium rights were bought from the Russian (allegation against Bill) instead of sold to the Russians (allegation against Clinton). But, the accusation that Bill Clinton fell apart as quickly as it was made. The allegation against Hillary lasted longer because she was running for President.
Buy uranium mining rights in Russia, would be for export to other countries. Buying uranium mining rights in the US, is completely different, as export would be prohibited without an export permit approved by the federal government.
A kickback scheme, as Fox News is alleging takes two: One that has political influence or can do a political favor, and another one that has money. Two names you will never hear on Fox News is Frank Giustra or Ian Telfer. Nor will you every hear on Fox News about the Clinton Giustra Enterprise Foundation or the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa. These are the two Canadians and former CEO’s of Uranium One.
The more I researched Frank Giustra and Ian Telfer, the more I realized that they were very involved in philanthropic activities – namely donating much of their wealth for good non-political causes, such as health and education.
Frank Giustra, CEO of Uranium One in 2007 made the donation of 130 million dollars to the Clinton Foundation, but in the fall of 2007, he sold his stock in Uranium One. Mr. Giustra had made a fortune in mining acquisitions, many of them in Brazil. What both Giustra and Telfer do these days, is exactly what Bill Gates, and other rich people do – give away their money to charitable organization. The Clinton Giustra Enterprise Foundation is a great example of a long term strategy to help the poor of South America through developing their own industries. I note that Carlos Slims, the Mexican billionaire, is also a contributor to this foundation.
Please take a look at the link to theClinton Giustra Enterprise Foundation at the end of this blog.
Following a New York Times article, Frank Giustra responded to this article and other unfounded attacks as follows:
A book that has not yet been published has caused the New York Times to publish a wildly speculative, innuendo-laced article about the Clinton Foundation and my role in contributing money to it. There is not one shred of evidence to back up the Times‘ conclusions. This is not about me, but rather an attempt to tear down Secretary Clinton and her presidential campaign. If this is what passes for investigative journalism in the United States, it is very sad.
The facts do not comport with the story in the New York Times. The reporter, Jo Becker, wrote a similar piece in 2008, which was eventually debunked by Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/12/giustra-clinton-kazakhstan-pf-ii-in_rl_0912croesus_inl.html
I began working on financing the purchase of mining stakes from a private Kazakh company in early 2005. The purchase was concluded in late 2005. In late 2005, I went to Kazakhstan to finish the negotiations of the sale. Bill Clinton flew to Almaty a few days after I arrived in the country on another person’s plane, not on my plane, as the Times reported. Bill Clinton had nothing to do with the purchase of private mining stakes by a Canadian company.
I sold all of my stakes in the uranium company – Uranium One – in the fall of 2007, after it merged with another company. I would note that those were sold at least 18 months before Hillary Clinton became the Secretary of State. No one was speculating at that time that she would become the Secretary of State.
Other media outlets have insinuated that I influenced the decision by the U.S. to sign a free trade agreement with Colombia. At one point, I was an investor in Pacific Rubiales, a Colombian energy company. I sold my shares in Pacific Rubiales several years before the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, which, I will note, was approved by several U.S. agencies and the White House. To theorize that I had anything to do with that is sheer conjecture.
I hope that the U.S. media can start to focus on the real challenges of the world and U.S. society. Focus on poverty, homelessness, infrastructure, health care, education, or fractious world politics. You are a great country. Don’t ruin it by letting those with political agendas take over your newspapers and your airwaves.
I am extremely proud of the work that we have done at the Clinton Giustra Enterprise Partnership. Thousands of people, all over the world, have been helped by this initiative. I plan to continue that work long after the harsh glare of this week’s media stories has faded.
Of course, once the charitable donation of 130 million dollars is seen as a proper donation, there’s only 15 million dollars left, and most of these donations occurred long before the Uranium One deal.
However, there is only one donor, who contributed at the time of the Uranium One deal, and that was Ian Telfer, former CEO of Uranium One and currently Chairman of the Board of Goldcorp. He donated 2.35 million dollars to the Clinton Foundation in 2010. Like Giustra, he was impressed with Clinton’s world initiatives in the areas of health and poverty.
Ian Telfer is one person that you really have to like. His occupation as listed on Wikipedia is mining executive and entrepreneur. But, it should include philanthropist, as like Frank Giustra, he has made large donations, including a 25 million dollar contribution to the University of Ottawa, School of Management.
Ian Telfer had difficulty getting into any business school because of his low grades. University of Ottawa accepted him. Ian set up a scholarship program for the student admitted to the school, with the lowest grades. I couldn’t believe this when I first read it!
In conclusion, from all research I’ve done, large donations were made to the Clinton Foundation, because what they were doing. It is out of character for Bill Clinton to be bragging about what he has done, but to publicize what has been accomplished by the Foundation. Part of his job, is getting people with money, be it Carlos Slim or Frank Giustra to believe and trust in the good work of the Clinton Foundation.
You are not going to know about any of this listening to Fox News, which seems to have nothing better to do than rerun the 2016 smear campaign against her. Maria Bartiroma, Sean Hannity and Lou Dobbs take turns suggesting a special prosecutor assigned to an investigation, where there is no real evidence of wrong doing.
It is what Trump wants, a diversion. Fox News will never interview Giustra and Telfer because their contribution are so consistent with their other philanthropic activities, and they will have high praise for the good work of the Clinton Foundation.
Frank Giustra, recognize was a Canadian and this was US politics, but he gave good advice, which Trump and Fox News should listen to:
I hope that the U.S. media can start to focus on the real challenges of the world and U.S. society. Focus on poverty, homelessness, infrastructure, health care, education, or fractious world politics. You are a great country. Don’t ruin it by letting those with political agendas take over your newspapers and your airwaves.
There will be no coverage of the good work of the Clinton Giustra Enterprise Foundation on Fox News. It doesn’t fit with their official political narrative directed at their base.
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