According to reports Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton used her position to benefit her son-in-law, who ran an unsuccessful Greek focused hedge fund.
Clinton reportedly forwarded a request made by son-in-law Marc Mezvinsky to State Department officials, according to the Associated Press. Clinton served as Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013 under President Barack Obama.
Clinton lends a hand to son-in-law’s hedge fund Eaglevale Partners LP
Mezvinsky is a partner at hedge fund Eaglevale Partners LP, and he requested that one of his clients be able to meet State Department officials. Clinton used her influence to forward the request.
The 2012 request relates to an investor in deep sea mining firm Neptune Minerals Inc., who wanted to meet officials. Mezvinsky, the husband of Chelsea Clinton, asked that his client be allowed to meet with senior figures in the State Department.
The former Secretary of State sent the request on to Thomas Nides, a vice chairman at Morgan Stanley who previously served as deputy secretary of state. “Could you have someone follow up on this request, which was forwarded to me?” Clinton asked Nides.
No evidence that government ethics rules were violated
The AP reports that Nides replied: “I’ll get on it.” However it is not known whether a meeting ever actually occurred and a spokesman for Clinton’s ongoing campaign refused to comment on the matter when asked by both AP and Reuters.
In 2012, when the request was made, the Obama administration was attempting to push the “Law of the Sea Treaty” through Congress. The treaty would have helped deep sea mining companies that conduct business in international waters.
According to government ethics rules, employees should “not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual.” However the AP reports that the consideration of requests made by family members is not prohibited.
Clinton has faced a great deal of scrutiny for her time as Secretary of State, particularly regarding her use of a private email server to handle professional emails. Critics argue that her questionable practices may have put sensitive information at risk, but she has denied that any state secrets were compromised.
The issue has continued to rumble on as she contests the Democratic candidacy.
Despite the “inside edge” Mezvinsky has had pretty poor returns.
