Humanities › Issues 7 Hillary Clinton Scandals and Controversies Why the Former First Lady is a Favorite Target Print Issues The U. S. Government Campaigns & Elections History & Major Milestones U.S. Constitution & Bill of Rights U.S. Legal System U.S. Political System Defense & Security Business & Finance U.S. Foreign Policy U.S. Liberal Politics U.S. Conservative Politics Women's Issues Civil Liberties The Middle East Race Relations Immigration Crime & Punishment Canadian Government Understanding Types of Government View More By Tom Murse Tom Murse Political Journalist Tom Murse has been writing about politics and government for over two decades, and has been recognized by the Nieman Foundation for fairness in investigative reporting. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on July 09, 2019 Hillary Clinton is a former first lady, served as a U.S. senator and was tapped by Barack Obama to serve as secretary of State. So she is a known quantity, so to speak, in American politics. She has been vetted so thoroughly by the press and her critics that her life is an open book. And yet it seems like there is an awful lot we don't know about Clinton. A new Hillary Clinton scandal or controversy emerges on a regular basis from the pages of conservative media and the airwaves of right-wing talkers, especially as she ramps up her campaign for president in the 2016 election. Related Story: What Is Opposition Research? Here's a look at seven of the biggest Hillary Clinton scandals and controversies, ones that will likely have an impact on her presidential campaign. The Hillary Clinton Email Scandal Former First Lady Hillary Clinton found herself amid a controversy over her use of a personal email address as she geared up for a run for president. Yana Paskova/Getty Images News Clinton's use of a personal email account during her time as secretary of State appears to be in violation of the Federal Records Act, a 1950 law that mandates the preservation of most records related to conducting government business. The records are important for Congress, historians and the public. Hillary Clinton Changed Her Mind About Same-Sex Marriage Getty Images News/Getty Images Hillary Clinton's position on same-sex marriage has evolved over time. Clinton would not support same-sex marriage during her 2008 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. But she reversed course and endorsed same-sex marriage in March 2013, saying that "gay rights are human rights." Hillary Clinton and Benghazi U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is said to be a potential 2016 presidential candidate. Johannes Simon/Getty Images News It's the Hillary Clinton controversy that Republicans can't seem to let go of, no matter how many times she tries to explain herself. Critics, particularly those in the Republican party, claimed Clinton and the Obama administration covered up the fact that the attack was an act of terror, and that it was unprepared for such an event, so that it would not damage his chance at re-election in 2012. Hillary Clinton's Wealth and Her Focus on the Middle Class Getty Images Hillary Clinton has made the middle class a central part of her campaign for president. But her focus on the growing gap between the wealthy and the poorest Americans may ring hollow given her own personal wealth, which is as much as $25.5 million. Related Story: Could Bill Clinton Serve in Hillary's Administration? It doesn't help that former President Bill Clinton has raked in $106 million in speaking fees since leaving the White House in 2001. The Clinton Whitewater Scandal President Bill Clinton was often criticized for waffling. The White House The term Whitewater was so ubiquitous when Bill Clinton was running for president in the 1990s. The complicated nature of the failed land and development deal involving the Clintons, though, made it tough for many voters to actually care. Hillary Clinton has stated repeatedly: "At the end of the day, the American people will know that we have nothing to cover up." The Clinton Foundation Scandal White House According to published reports, a nonprofit established by Bill Clinton called the Clinton Foundation accepted money from foreign governments while Hillary Clinton served as secretary of State. The concern is that those countries were trying to buy influence with the Clinton-led Department of State. Vince Foster Suicide and Urban Legends The conspiracy theorists ran wild when Vince Foster, a longtime friend and political ally of the Clintons, killed himself with a handgun in 1993. They surmised that Foster knew too much about the Clintons and was murdered. "Rumors about his death shook the stock market and dogged the president. Foster came to be seen by many as the key to a vault of dark secrets about some of the most powerful people in the world," The Washington Post wrote in 1994. But as About.com's Urban Legends expert David Emery wrote: "No fewer than five official investigations were conducted into the circumstances of his death, and none found evidence of foul play." Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Murse, Tom. "7 Hillary Clinton Scandals and Controversies." ThoughtCo, Sep. 1, 2021, thoughtco.com/hillary-clinton-scandals-and-controversies-3367580. Murse, Tom. (2021, September 1). 7 Hillary Clinton Scandals and Controversies. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/hillary-clinton-scandals-and-controversies-3367580 Murse, Tom. "7 Hillary Clinton Scandals and Controversies." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/hillary-clinton-scandals-and-controversies-3367580 (accessed April 25, 2024). copy citation