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Clinton Turns Back on Burkle, $20M

Amount owed from former business deal may have diminished with economy

By Clay Dillow, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 16, 2009 9:05 AM CDT

(Newser) – Bill Clinton has called it quits with Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Cos, walking away from a payment once estimated at up to $20 million, the Wall Street Journal reports. Clinton began distancing himself from Yucaipa in 2007 as Hillary Clinton’s run for the White House heated up, and continued to do so when multimillion-dollar donations to his charitable foundation by foreign leaders became an issue during her Senate confirmation for secretary of State.

Oddly, Clinton’s Yucaipa connections attracted little scrutiny then, though he served as an adviser to a foreign fund connected to Dubai’s ruler; that fund also invested in a media company with ties to the Beijing government. Beginning in 2002, the former president also served as adviser to two domestic investment funds; he had anticipated the $20 million payout from these three partnerships, though the Journal notes the financial crisis might have trimmed that amount.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, acknowledge guests before her ceremonial swearing-in at the State Department, Monday, Feb. 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Former President Bill Clinton shakes hands with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon after a meeting in Port-au-Prince, Tuesday, March 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Former President Bill Clinton, speaks during the Jefferson/Jackson Democratic fundraising event in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

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Clinton Turns Back on Burkle, $20M

Amount owed from former business deal may have diminished with economy

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Chelsea Clinton Steps Out

Former first daughter begins to embrace public life

Dorothy Rodham, Hillary's Mom, Dead at 92

Clinton cancels Europe trip

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Usher rips his pants, Bono sings opera, the usual

Paul Ryan: Obama Waging 'Class Warfare'

'Buffett Rule' finds no fan in Budget Committee chair

Bill Clinton, aka 'President of the World'

Chris Matthews' glowing TV special focuses on years since office

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Clinton Turns Back on Burkle, $20M

Amount owed from former business deal may have diminished with economy

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Hillary Clinton • Ron Burkle • Bill Clinton • Dubai • Senate confirmation hearings • Yucaipa • Clinton Foundation

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Chelsea Clinton Steps Out

Former first daughter begins to embrace public life

Dorothy Rodham, Hillary's Mom, Dead at 92

Clinton cancels Europe trip

Lady Gaga Channels Marilyn at Clinton Fete

Usher rips his pants, Bono sings opera, the usual

Paul Ryan: Obama Waging 'Class Warfare'

'Buffett Rule' finds no fan in Budget Committee chair

Bill Clinton, aka 'President of the World'

Chris Matthews' glowing TV special focuses on years since office

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?