Question: Environmental organization Friends of the Earth has issued a press release regarding Secretary Clinton’s former presidential campaign manager who is now an oil industry lobbyist. Does the Secretary’s past association with lobbyist Paul Elliot present a conflict of interests with regard to approval of the Keystone XL pipeline?
Answer: No. The Department is considering this permit application on its merits. The Department is not, and will not, be influenced by prior relationships that current government officials have had.
