Politics

Dem Congressman Short-Circuits Trying To Defend Clinton Foundation [VIDEO]

Christian Datoc Senior White House Correspondent
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Rep. Jim Himes twice declined to answer whether it’s OK for Chelsea Clinton to remain with the Clinton Foundation on CNN Thursday.

Earlier in the day, news broke that Chelsea Clinton will reportedly stay on at the Clinton Foundation even if her mother Hillary wins the election in November. (RELATED: Chelsea Clinton To Stay On At Clinton Foundation)

“Is that just smoke? Does that meet the bar that Hillary Clinton herself has set?” asked host John Berman.

“I would hope, and as you know the Clinton Foundation announced a number of measures they intend to take if the secretary is elected president,” responded the Democrat from Connecticut. “I would hope that they would take a purer than Caesar’s wife approach, you know, white as the driven snow.”

Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea Clinton embrace at the end on the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention (Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea Clinton embrace at the end on the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention Getty Images

“I don’t want to jump into whether you could set up a system whereby the president’s daughter is in this — you know — they should take the approach of just being pure as the driven snow and create a very clear line,” Himes elaborated.

Jim Himes participates in a news conference about the impending "fiscal cliff" and other economic issues November 15, 2012 (Getty Images)

Jim Himes participates in a news conference about the impending “fiscal cliff” and other economic issues November 15, 2012 (Getty Images)

“It doesn’t sound to me like you think having Chelsea Clinton on the board is as pure as the driven snow,” Berman posed a second time.

“Well, you don’t, first of all, we have a presidential election to have here, and if Hillary Clinton is elected president, this becomes a very real question,” Himes explained. “Something they may or may not do, an election that they may or may not win. I think it’s a little premature to be judging that.”

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