America
Former Indian-American aide to Hillary Clinton under investigation
Washington, Aug 4
A former Indian-American
aide to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is being
probed for allegedly accepting overpayments from the State Department
while working for the then US secretary of state, media reported on
Tuesday.
Huma Abedin worked as a full time staffer for Hillary Clinton from January 2009 until June 2012.
"Abedin
leveraged her State Department job to benefit her two other employers
at that time - the Clinton Foundation and a consulting firm called Teneo
Strategies,†claimed a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, written
by senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
the Washington Examiner reported.
In his letter, Grassley alleged that Abedin while at the State Department simultaneously worked for these two companies.
Teneo Strategies was founded by Douglas Band, a long time aide to Bill Clinton.
Abedin,
whose father is from India and mother from Pakistan, allegedly sent or
received more than 7,000 emails on her government account that involved
Band, the letter claimed.
"The committee has learned of
allegations that, during your simultaneous employment by the Department
of State, Teneo, and the Clinton Foundation, you were solicited for and
delivered favors for preferred individuals," Grassley wrote to Abedin.
She
was given a “special government employee†designation and soon took on
roles at the Clinton Foundation and Teneo, the letter added.
Grassley also called into question a $33,000 payment Abedin received from the State Department for leave she had not used.
"During
approximately three and a half years as a full time government
employee, Ms Abedin reportedly never requested, was approved for, or had
her leave balance reduced for use of any sick leave, annual leave, or
administrative leave," he said in the letter.
Grassley also
alleged that Abedin went on a 10-day trip to Italy and France with her
husband during her time as a department employee.
However, her time and attendance sheets allegedly indicated that she worked full time, he alleged.