Chafee hits Hillary on donations, Iraq vote

Former Sen. Lincoln Chafee (D-R.I.) wasted no time in attacking former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, hours after his surprise announcement that he is considering a run for the Democratic presidential nomination.

“The donations to the Clinton Foundation are alarming to me,” Chafee told The New York Times on Thursday, referring to contributions to the organization from foreign governments that sparked criticism and ethical questions.

Earlier this year, news reports highlighted that the foundation quietly ended a ban on foreign donations in place during Clinton’s tenure at the State Department. Later reports revealed that at least one donation that had come from a foreign country during her tenure violated an ethics agreement between the administration and the foundation.

{mosads}Chafee also took issue with Clinton’s decision to vote, as a senator, to authorize the Iraq War in 2002. He suggested that should disqualify her from the presidency.

“It’s still relevant,” Chafee told the Times. “I would argue that the next president of the United States should not have voted for that war.”

Chafee joined the Senate in 1999 and later served as Rhode Island’s governor. He has shifted parties over time — transitioning from a Republican in the upper chamber to an independent and most recently a Democrat.

If he chooses to run, he would join a small Democratic field. In addition to Clinton, who is expected to declare her candidacy in the next few weeks and is the clear front-runner, other potential candidates include former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and former Sen. Jim Webb (Va.).