Almost two years ago, Tim Miller, the then executive director of the America Rising PAC, authored a letter to look into possible favoritism from Hillary Clinton’s State Department epartment to longtime Clinton associate Terry McAuliffe. The letter, addressed to the State Department, was acknowledged as having been received, but none of the information requested has ever been handed over.
“In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 5 U.S.C. § 552, I request copies of all records of physical and or electronic correspondence, memoranda, scheduled meetings and records of phone calls regarding the decision to invite Terrence R. McAuliffe, Charles Wang and Rick Wade, all of whom were executives of GreenTech Automotive, to a State Department Luncheon on or around February 14, 2012, which was hosted by Vice President Biden and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to honor Xi Jinping, then-Vice President, now-President of China,” Miller, who is now an adviser to Jeb Bush, wrote on July 23, 2013.
I also request copies of any and all communications or memoranda related to the State Department’s possible involvement in securing Chinese government subsidies for GreenTech Automotive’s plant in Ordos, China, securing EB-5 investors for Gulf Coast Funds Management LLC, or lobbying the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of either Gulf Coast Funds Management or GreenTech Automotive.
Public reports indicate that Mr. McAuliffe, Mr. Wang and Mr. Wade were invited to attend a State Department Luncheon on or around February 14, 2012. According to a GreenTech Automotive press release dated February 14, 2012, “Vice President Biden introduced Mr. McAuliffe and Mr. Wade to Vice President Xi” and Mr. McAuliffe and Mr. Wade had the unique opportunity to speak to China’s recently elected President1 about the GreenTech factory in Ordos, China, an opportunity many of America’s business people would most likely enjoy. Furthermore, photos from this press release show Mr. McAuliffe, Mr. Wang and Mr. Wade having personal interaction with Vice Presidents Biden and Jinping, as well as Secretary Clinton:
Miller provided these photos to illustrate his request:
The letter from America Rising PAC concluded, “Recently released documents show that Terry McAuliffe was personally involved in lobbying the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of GreenTech.3 Furthermore, The Associated Press reported today that that Gulf Coast Funds Managements LLC, GreenTech Automotive’s “sister company,”4 is part of an investigation into special treatment from USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas5. This information begs the question, did Terry McAuliffe use his personal relationship with Secretary Clinton to gain favor from the State Department?
“Please inform me of the total cost of this request, which I will agree to pay after knowing the total amount. Where exemptions to the Freedom Of Information Act are discretionary, I ask you not to withhold such records, even if they might qualify for withholding under the law. If you withhold any records as exempt, please redact the exempted portions and release the remainder of the records. In any case where you withhold any records, please explain in writing any such denial.”
The State Department refusing to answre the questions is relevant because a new report from the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security has shown that department engaging in favoritism. As Stephen Dinan of the Washington Times reports:
Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, whom President Obama promoted even while he was under investigation, meddled in three cases, creating “an appearance of favoritism and special access,” the department’s inspector general said in a 99-page report that stops just short of accusing Mr. Mayorkas of lying.
Here’s a copy of the full letter:
America Rising s FOIA to State Department Regarding GreenTech
