[guest post by Dana]

How hard can it be to locate the required exit papers of a former employee? Well, at most organizations, it wouldn’t be that difficult. Human Resources typically maintains any and all personnel records of current and former employees. Unless, of course, the employer is the State Dept. and the employee in question is Hillary Clinton. Then all bets are off.

Incompetency: Another day at the podium, another opportunity to look like a fool.

MATT LEE, AP: Last week, I think a couple times you were asked about whether the department has a record of Secretary Clinton signing the separation form.

JEN PSAKI: I don’t have an update on this, Matt. We’re still working on it. I understand.

MATT LEE: There has to be a human resources department, they presumably have a file on every employee at the State Dept. It can’t be that difficult.

JEN PSAKI: I don’t think former secretaries are standard employees.

MATT LEE: They might not be but how hard could it be? How hard can it be to find out whether she did or not?

JEN PSAKI: I understand why you’re asking. We’re looking to get an answer. I don’t have an answer today.

MATT LEE: Do you know — where are these forms after they are signed? Where do they go?

JEN PSAKI: Where in the building do they go?

MATT LEE: If I asked for one from someone else.

JEN PSAKI: I’m not sure how many forms we’d be willing to give you access to. Hahaha.

We keep records. I don’t have an update on this particular question today. We keep records, yes…

MATT LEE: So if someone had signed one of these forms it would be on file somewhere?

JEN PSAKI: We do keep records, yes, it would be on file.

MATT LEE: Then I can’t understand why– whatever.

Bonus points to Matt Lee for not gouging out his eyes in utter frustration.

Remember the unfortunate no-win:

If she signed it and was not honest, she is in a heap of trouble. If she did not have to sign it, it is further evidence that the rules don’t apply to her and that she is deliberately evasive enough to avoid perjuring herself.

And, to clarify:

If State can’t find the form then Hillary’s not guilty of perjury. If State can find the form then perjury is back in play, but remember that perjury is a crime of intent. You have to knowingly and willfully falsify facts to be guilty; an honest or pretend-honest mistake isn’t actionable.

–Dana

How about that:

A CBS News investigation has found that at least one foreign company with close ties to its government has been giving generously to the foundation run by Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.

Since its founding, the Clinton Foundation has invested millions each year for work in fighting AIDS and empowering women, but its recent uptick in donations from foreign governments has been raising questions about the potential influence on Hillary Clinton, as she gets ready to run for president.

The foundation has raised at least $42 million from foreign governments – and according to an analysis by CBS News – at least $170 million from foreign entities and individuals.

One donor – Rilin Enterprises- pledged $2 million in 2013 to the Clinton Foundation’s endowment. The company is a privately-held Chinese construction and trade conglomerate and run by billionaire Wang Wenliang, who is also a delegate to the Chinese parliament. Public records show the firm has spent $1.4 million since 2012, lobbying Congress and the State Department. The firm owns a strategic port along the border with North Korea and was also one of the contractors that built the Chinese embassy in Washington.

Campaign finance laws prevent foreign contributions to candidates in federal elections. But foreigners who wish to influence potential presidents can always get away with sending giant contributions to an entity like the Clinton Foundation. The CBS News story says the foundation has raised around $42 million from foreign sources.

I’m tired of the Clintons finding cute loopholes to do little end runs around every rule in the book, aren’t you?

Let’s just pass an explicit law that says the rules don’t apply to the Clintons and be done with it.