Conservative group sues for Huma State Dept. contracting docs, citing links to Bill and Hillary

A watchdog group has sued the government for details of an arrangement that allowed Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin to do outside consulting work while she was employed by the State Department.

The conservative group Judicial Watch said Wednesday that it filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the State Department on May 21, but had not received any documents it is seeking pertaining to Abedin’s outside employment.

Under the law, the State Department should have provided the documents by June 19, unless there was a legal reason not to, Judicial Watch said.
“As is so often the case with the Clintons, or those close to them, Ms. Abedin's questionable dealings are wrapped in secrecy," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

"The State Department's stonewall on Abedin suggests that there is something to hide."
Abedin did not immediately responded to a request for comment, but a State Department official denied the agency is stonewalling.

"The Department takes seriously its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act and will handle this request accordingly,” the official said, adding that the agency "received more than 18,000 FOIA requests in the last fiscal year alone."

The State Department approved Abedin’s special working arrangement in June 2012, after a maternity leave.

The department agreed that Abedin could work for private clients as a consultant with the firm Teneo Holdings while at the same time serving as a special advisor to Clinton, who was then secretary of state.

Teneo is a strategic consulting firm founded by Doug Band, a longtime aide and advisor to Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton. It touts among its services providing advice to leaders of governments and businesses.

Abedin’s special working arrangement ended in February of this year, when Abedin and Clinton left the State Department.

Fox News has reported that Abedin earned $355,000 as a consultant to Teneo, in addition to her government salary.

Judicial Watch is seeking a raft of documents from the State Department, including the all records relating to the authorization it gave permitting Abedin’s outside employment.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, also has been seeking information from Abedin and the State Department about her dual roles.

Abedin, the wife of failed mayoral hopeful Anthony Weiner, has been a top conservative target due to her close association with Hillary Clinton, a potential 2016 White House contender.

During Weiner's mayoral run, questions arose about how the couple could afford a pricey Park Ave. South apartment on one government salary following Weiner's 2011 resignation from Congress.