The latest batch of FBI records obtained by Judicial Watch has shed new light on a 1996 criminal investigation into potential wire and mail fraud involving Hillary Clinton's late brother, Tony Rodham. The heavily redacted documents confirm that Rodham was the subject of a probe by the FBI's Miami Field Office under case number 196D-MM-79121.
The investigation centered on Rodham's involvement with East European Imports, Inc. (EEI) in Coral Gables, Florida, which claimed exclusive U.S. rights to import Romanian ARO four-wheel-drive vehicles. However, no vehicles were ever imported, and the FBI concluded there was "very little likelihood" any ARO vehicles would arrive in America from EEI.
Rodham traveled to Romania with EEI principals, met with Romanian officials, and helped promote the venture despite being warned that the associates had submitted "fraudulent and inflated financial statements" to Romanian authorities. The FBI itself flagged the obvious problem in black and white, stating that Rodham's involvement in securing the importation rights had "sensitive political aspects" due to his relationship with Hillary Clinton.
The FBI has already admitted it possesses over 13,000 additional pages of responsive records on Tony Rodham, plus audio and video files, from an earlier FOIA request. Much of it remains hidden behind heavy redactions and bureaucratic delays.
The national investigation involving Hillary Clinton's brother by the FBI is only being disclosed now, thanks to Judicial Watch's lawsuit. The discovery raises serious questions about what remains hidden in the government's files not only about Hillary's brother but also about Hillary Clinton herself.
Rodham used his connections with the Clintons to further his interests for decades, including addressing Chinese investor conferences and joining an advisory board of a company seeking permission to mine for gold in Haiti. He was also involved in a controversy over his involvement in the EB-5 cash-for-visas program, in which he raised at least $46 million from investors for their GreenTech Automotive electric-car company.
The records obtained by Judicial Watch reveal instances of Rodham seeming to attempt to leverage his influence as Clinton's brother, including a request for help on a "green card renewal" and a visit by someone of which a Clinton aide said they "wanted to regret." The documents also reveal incidents of special State Department treatment being provided to major donors to the Clinton Foundation and political campaigns.
