Clinton and Isaias

New York Times: “The Obama Administration Overturned A Ban Preventing A Wealthy, Politically Connected Ecuadorean Woman From Entering The United States After Her Family Gave Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars To Democratic Campaigns.” “The Obama administration overturned a ban preventing a wealthy, politically connected Ecuadorean woman from entering the United States after her family gave tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns, according to finance records and government officials.” [New York Times, 12/17/14] New York Times: A Ban On Estefania Isaias Entering The United States “Was Lifted At The Request Of The State Department Under Former Secretary Of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.” “Estefanía Isaías…had been barred from coming to the United States after being caught fraudulently obtaining visas for her maids. But the ban was lifted at the request of the State Department under former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton so that Ms. Isaías could work for an Obama fund-raiser with close ties to the administration.” [New York Times, 12/17/14] New York Times: The Isaias Family “Has Been Investigated By Federal Law Enforcement Agencies On Suspicion Of Money Laundering And Immigration Fraud.” “It was one of several favorable decisions the Obama administration made in recent years involving the Isaías family, which the government of Ecuador accuses of buying protection from Washington and living comfortably in Miami off the profits of a looted bank in Ecuador. The family, which has been investigated by federal law enforcement agencies on suspicion of money laundering and immigration fraud, has made hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to American political campaigns in recent years. During that time, it has repeatedly received favorable treatment from the highest levels of the American government, including from New Jersey’s senior senator and the State Department.” [New York Times, 12/17/14] New York Times: “Senator Robert Menendez…And His Staff Engaged In A Relentless Effort To Help Ms. Isaías, Urging Senior Government Officials, Including Mrs. Clinton’s Chief Of Staff, Cheryl Mills, To Waive The Ban.” “For more than a year, Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, and his staff engaged in a relentless effort to help Ms. Isaías, urging senior government officials, including Mrs. Clinton’s chief of staff, Cheryl Mills, to waive the ban. The senator’s assistance came even though Ms. Isaías’s family, a major donor to him and other American politicians, does not live in his state.” [New York Times, 12/17/14] New York Times: Senator Menendez “And His Staff Repeatedly Made Calls, Sent Emails And Wrote Letters About Ms. Isaías’s Case To Mrs. Clinton, Ms. Mills, The Consulate In Ecuador, And The Departments Of State And Homeland Security.” [New York Times, 12/17/14] New York Times: “After Months Of Resistance From State Department Offices In Ecuador And Washington, [Senator Menendez] Lobbied Ms. Mills Himself, And The Ban Against Ms. Isaías Was Eventually Overturned.” [New York Times, 12/17/14] New York Times: “Alfredo J. Balsera, The Obama Fund-Raiser Whose Firm…Sponsored Ms. Isaías’s Visa, Was Featured Recently In USA Today As A Prominent Latino Fund-Raiser Backing Mrs. Clinton For President In 2016.” “[T]he case involving Estefanía could prove awkward for Mrs. Clinton, who was in charge of the State Department at the time high-ranking officials overruled the agency’s ban on Ms. Isaías for immigration fraud, and whose office made calls on the matter…Alfredo J. Balsera, the Obama fund-raiser whose firm, Balsera Communications, sponsored Ms. Isaías’s visa, was featured recently in USA Today as a prominent Latino fund-raiser backing Mrs. Clinton for president in 2016.” [New York Times, 12/17/14] Politico: “Incoming Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker…Was More Measured” Than Other Republicans Who Responded To President Obama’s Move To Normalize Relations With Cuba. “Leading Republicans reacted with outrage Wednesday over the Obama administration’s move to normalize relations with Cuba…incoming Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, was more measured, saying in a statement that he heard the news Wednesday morning

and that ‘as of now there is no real understanding as to what changes the Cuban government is prepared to make.’” [Politico, 12/17/14] U.S. Chamber Of Commerce On New Cuba Policy: “The U.S. Business Community Welcomes Today’s Announcement, And Has Long Supported Many Of The Economic Provisions The President Touched On In His Remarks.” “The Chamber’s support of the Obama administration’s actions also was evidence of fissures within the GOP over Cuba. ‘The U.S. business community welcomes today’s announcement, and has long supported many of the economic provisions the president touched on in his remarks,’ Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue said in a statement. ‘We deeply believe that an open dialogue and commercial exchange between the U.S. and Cuban private sectors will bring shared benefits, and the steps announced today will go a long way in allowing opportunities for free enterprise to flourish.’” [Politico, 12/17/14] Rep Mark Sanford: "I Am Encouraged By The President’s Move Today To Ease Restrictions For Americans Wanting To Travel To Cuba..." [@frankthorpNBC, Twitter, 12/17/14]