Bill Goes To The Vet

By Glenn Thrush

(The Politico)  Bill Clinton has delegated a three-person legal team to deal with the huge vetting process the Obama team is undertaking to clear Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State, according to people familiar with the situation.

The former president has tapped longtime lawyer and confidant David Kendall, Bob Barnett -- who helped Barack Obama negotiate his book deal -- and Hillaryland aide Cheryl Mills, who was already acting as a go-between to the transition team, sources said.

Earlier this week, people close to Obama said they were frustrated with the pace of cooperation from the Clintons, but the collaboration has picked up speed -- even as the former first lady has privately expressed doubts about taking the job if offered.

Mark Ambinder over at the Atlantic provides some intriguing detail that we haven't been able to nail down yet -- namely that the former president has no problem disengaging from his charitable enterprises to avoid conflicts of interests.

This gibes with our previous reporting that the Clintons had a similar disengagement plan locked and loaded if  Hillary became president.


Bill Clinton has also indicated, according to sources, that he would be willing to step down as the functional leader of his foundation for the duration of his wife's tenure in the Obama administration. He would readily agree, these sources say, to disclose any new sources of income and submit his speaking schedule -- and his speeches -- to State Department officials in advance.

A team of lawyers supervises the vetting of more than a dozen candidates for top administration jobs. Todd Stern, an attorney at Wilmer Hale and a close associate of John Podesta's, is an informal liaison between the Clinton and Obama teams. Stern is also supervising the transition team's review of the structure of the White House and executive orders.