PolitiFact Calls Out “False” Attack From Clinton Cash Author Peter Schweizer

Schweizer Has Been Falsely Claiming Clinton “Changed” Her Position On India Deal Because Of “Money”

Written by Eric Hananoki

Published

Fact-checking website PolitiFact criticized Clinton Cash author Peter Schweizer for falsely claiming that Hillary Clinton changed positions on an India nuclear deal.

Schweizer claims in his new book that Clinton Foundation donors influenced Hillary Clinton's decisions as secretary of state. As evidence, Schweizer speculated that donor money caused Clinton to switch her position on a 2008 India nuclear trade deal “despite the public opposition of her closest advisers.”

Schweizer has repeated the charge during media appearances promoting his book. During a May 1 appearance on MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports, he claimed Clinton flipped her support between 2006 and 2008, citing her voting record on several Senate amendments about the legislation.

During a May 4 interview on a Cleveland radio program, Schweizer claimed Clinton switched her support for the deal after “a bunch of money flows to the Clintons from speaking fees and from donations to the Clinton Foundation.” Schweizer added Clinton's mind was “changed” by the “money.” 

PolitiFact examined Schweizer's remarks on MSNBC and found his claims were “false.” The website, a project of the Tampa Bay Times, concluded that Clinton “showed public support for a deal in 2006, and she voted in favor of the deal in both 2006 and 2008.”

MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell told Schweizer that “our research shows she didn't” switch positions and therefore money couldn't have “influenced this when she had already made those decisions.” 

Politico similarly found major holes in Schweizer's India theory, writing on April 29 that “a review of then-Sen. Clinton's statements and votes while the Indian nuclear deal was under debate shows that one of the key facts in Schweizer's argument on the topic is false -- Clinton actually publicly stated her support for the deal in 2006.” Politico also noted that Schweizer's reporting about Clinton's voting record on the Senate amendments was flawed.  

PolitiFact joins numerous other outlets including that have examined Schweizer's book and found factual problems. Indeed, Schweizer's Clinton Cash features over 20 errors, fabrications, and distortions.