Turning words into tonnes of cash, the Clintons way

Hillary and Bill Clinton earned over $25 million (about Ksh2.4 billion at current exchange rate) for delivering more than 100 speeches since 2014, according to financial disclosure forms released by the Clinton campaign.

Hillary Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, also earned $5 million in royalties for her book, “Hard Choices,” which was released in June, according to the forms.

The Clintons’ income puts them at least in the top 0.1% of the US population, the Journal reported. Economic inequality has been a top campaign theme for Democrats for the past several years and Clinton in April voiced concern about the hefty paychecks of some corporate executives in an email to supporters.

But the Clintons themselves have faced criticism for high speaking fees, which for Hillary Clintonhave gone up to $250,000 since she left the helm of the State Department in 2013. Liberals have criticized her for taking money from financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, for speeches they say make her beholden to big business.

Last year, Hillary Clinton was criticized for saying she and her husband were “dead broke” when they left the White House in 2001, even though Bill Clinton made millions of dollars giving speeches after his presidency.

Republican presidential contender Marco Rubio also filed disclosure forms with the Federal Election Commission, the Washington Post reported. They show the U.S. senator from Florida owes at least $450,000 and as much as $1 million on three mortgages, including a home equity line of credit, the newspaper said.

His assets, which include checking and savings accounts, college funds for his children and a rental property in Tallahassee, are worth between $361,018 and $1,035,000.

Presidential candidates are required to file the financial information with the FEC within 30 days of declaring their candidacy, although they can seek up to two 45-day extensions.
Republican candidates Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky sought extensions rather than file on Friday, the Post reported.

(REUTERS)