A conservative group has called on Ambassador Janice Jacobs, the State Department’s newly-appointed “transparency czar,” to resign amid revelations that she donated the maximum amount permitted by law to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
America Rising, a Republican political action committee, highlighted the “conflict of interest” created by allowing a Clinton supporter to decide which of Clinton’s emails will be disclosed to the public and Congress — a reported part of Jacobs’ new position.
“It’s clear from her donations to Secretary Clinton that the new State Department czar has a conflict of interest in the ongoing email scandal and needs to step aside,” said Colin Reed, executive director of America Rising PAC. “The American people deserve leadership completely removed of partisan politics. The only way for this to happen is for Ambassador Jacobs to resign and be replaced by a truly neutral arbiter who can resolve the email issue as quickly and fairly as possible.”
Jacobs gave $2,700 to the Clinton campaign in June.
As State’s transparency coordinator, Jacobs will have authority over a variety of agency policies, including the implementation of the inspector general’s recommendations on how to improve federal record-keeping.
Critics seized on Jacobs’ financial support of the Clinton campaign just hours after the State Department announced her appointment.
But State Department officials have downplayed the contribution, claiming Jacobs’ donation will not affect her impartiality and downplaying the news as “not relevant” to the position.
