Just in Time for Her Confirmation Hearing, Questions Arise About The Clintons

I don't know why the AP is sounding surprised about this:

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State appointee Hillary Rodham Clinton intervened at least six times in government issues directly affecting companies and others that later contributed to her husband's foundation, an Associated Press review of her official correspondence found.

The overlap of names on former President Bill Clinton's foundation donor list and business interests whose issues she championed raises new questions about potential ethics conflicts between her official actions and her husband's fundraising. The AP obtained three of the senator's government letters under the Freedom of Information Act.

Clinton was to begin her confirmation hearing Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Under an agreement with President-elect Barack Obama, Bill Clinton recently released the names of donors to his foundation, a nonprofit that has raised at least $492 million — including millions from foreign governments — to fund his library in Little Rock, Ark., and charitable efforts worldwide on such issues as AIDS, poverty and climate change.

The letters and donations involve pharmaceutical companies and telecommunications and energy interests. An aide to the senator said she made no secret of her involvement in many of the issues. Bill Clinton's foundation declined to say when it received the donations or precisely how much was contributed.

"Throughout her tenure, Senator Clinton has proven that she acts solely based on what she believes is best for the state and people she represents, without consideration to any other factor," spokesman Philippe Reines said. "In these instances, she was doing what the people of New York elected her to do: Work hard on the issues of importance to them."

Well, important to a few New Yorkers anyway. The relationship between Clinton's Senate seat and her husband's "library" has alway been symbiotic - they exist to help the other. Hill's position in government gives her some clout to help those who contribute to Bill, and vice versa.

Will this in any way hamper her confirmation? Of course not.