Bill Clinton said in an interview with NBC’s “Today” that he will continue to deliver paid speeches throughout Hillary’s presidential campaign in order to “pay [their] bills.”
“It’s the most independence I can get,” the former president told journalist Cynthia McFadden in the exclusive interview, which aired Monday morning. “I work hard on [the Clinton Foundation]. I spend a couple of hours a day just doing the research. People like to hear me speak.”
“I have turned down a lot of them,” Clinton explained of his speech engagements. “If I think there is something wrong with it, I don’t take it. And I do disclose who gave them to me so people can make up their own mind.”
When asked whether he will continue to accept money for his remarks, he responded assuredly, “I’ve got to pay our bills.”
Clinton also isn’t set on stepping down from his role at the Clinton Foundation if Hillary attains the presidency in 2016.
“If it’s the right thing to do, I will,” Clinton explained.
“I might if I were asked to do something in the public interest that I had an obligation to do. Or I might take less of an executive role,” he continued. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Watch the full interview with NBC below, the choice comments coming at about 5:00.
