Conservative media like Fox News have waged a campaign against the Clinton Foundation and the media's connections to the nonpartisan charity. One of the moderators for the upcoming Fox Business Republican debate was heavily involved in the charity, complicating any potential debate efforts to fearmonger about the group's “fantastic” work.
Maria Bartiromo is co-moderating Fox Business' November 10 Republican primary debate. She is the host of Mornings with Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business and Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News.
Bartiromo moderated or participated in at least eight Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) events between 2008 and 2013 during her prior employment at CNBC.
CGI is a nonpartisan program of the Clinton Foundation that annually convenes world leaders to pledge charitable commitments for “solutions to the world's most pressing challenges.” CGI and the Clinton Foundation have been widely praised, with attendees and donors including leading Republican politicians and conservative media moguls. But during the current presidential campaign, conservatives have turned on the organization, painting it as a partisan extension of Hillary Clinton's campaign.
Bartiromo was listed as a “member” of the Clinton Global Initiative on the program's website. She called CGI a “fantastic” and “nonpartisan” event that has received commitments “valued at more than $73 billion.” She praised the Clinton Foundation for doing “good work” and trying to “really make a difference.”
In 2008, Bartiromo was the master of ceremonies for a CGI event honoring “extraordinary citizens of the world.” She said she “was privileged” to host it for President Clinton.
21st Century Fox executive chairman Rupert Murdoch and his son, 21st Century Fox CEO James R. Murdoch, have also been involved with the Clinton Foundation as donors and attendees at events. 21st Century Fox is the parent company of Fox Business.
Conservative media previously complained about CNN debate moderator Anderson Cooper's ties to CGI. The Weekly Standard claimed “Cooper helped Hillary Clinton raise money, and now he's presented as an impartial moderator for tonight's debate.” Truth Revolt wrote that Cooper's ties show he's “Part of Clinton Circle.”
UPDATE (11/10): Trish Regan, who is hosting Fox Business' undercard debate, also participated in Clinton Foundation events during her prior employment with Bloomberg TV.
Regan moderated a CGI panel on “Our Generation's Greatest Challenge: Winning the Race to a Clean Energy Future” in 2014. She also hosted “sessions where top government, business, and nonprofit leaders will address the U.S. economy” for CGI in 2013, including interviewing President Clinton.