Bill Clinton tried to give paid speeches in North Korea, Congo and the Democratic Republic Of The Congo while Hillary was secretary of state.

ABC News reported Friday that while Hillary was secretary of state, Bill was asking for $650,000 for a speech in the Congo. In total, Bill earned $48 million for speeches during Hillary’s tenure.

Jon Karl: Good morning, Robin. These emails obtained by ABC News show that while Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, Bill Clinton tried to get approval for speeches tied to two of the most repressive regimes in the world. The emails have come to light because of a public records request by the conservative group Citizens United which sued the State Department to get them released. While Hillary Clinton served as secretary of state, Bill Clinton earned speaking fees totaling over $48 million. Now emails obtained by ABC News through a public records request by the conservative group Citizens United, which sued to get the documents, shows just how far Bill Clinton was willing to go to earn those lucrative fees.

Trying to get approval for speeches tied to two of the most brutal countries in the world. In the first email sent in June 2012, a top official with the Clinton Foundation forwards a speaking invitation for Bill Clinton in central Africa for the State Department’s approval. The catch, the dictators for the Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo would both be attending and require photos with Bill Clinton. But the speaking fee, a whopping $650,000. Clinton’s own speaking agency recommended declining the invitation, noting, quote, ‘The prevalence and intensity of sexual violence against women in eastern Congo is widely described as the worst in the world. We anticipate you’ll want us to quickly decline.’ Still, the Clinton Foundation official says the former president wants to know if he could accept the speech if the money went to the foundation instead of to Clinton directly. Hillary Clinton has long defended the couple’s paid speeches since leaving the White House.

Hillary Clinton (in prior interview): I thought making speeches for money was a much better thing than getting connected with any one group or company.

Karl: In May 2012 the Foundation also inquired with the secretary of state’s office about an event related to North Korea. The secretary of state’s office advised ‘decline it.’ But the Foundation followed up saying the invite came via Hillary’s brother who works as a consultant, adding, quote, ‘We would be grateful for any specific concerns that we could share.’ Hillary’s chief of staff wrote back to tell Bill Clinton, ‘If he needs more let him know his wife knows and I am happy to call him.’ Last night a spokesperson for Bill Clinton emailed, quote, ‘As a matter of course, all requests were run by the State Department, ultimately the President did not give these speeches.’

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