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Who is Sidney Blumenthal, the adviser who features in Hillary Clinton's emails? Who is Sidney Blumenthal, the adviser who features in Hillary Clinton's emails?
(35 minutes later)
Sidney Blumenthal, the fiercely loyal and deeply connected former aide to President Bill Clinton, has played many roles – both officially and unofficially – for the Clintons.Sidney Blumenthal, the fiercely loyal and deeply connected former aide to President Bill Clinton, has played many roles – both officially and unofficially – for the Clintons.
But despite his proximity to power, Blumenthal remains relatively unknown outside elite political and media circles.But despite his proximity to power, Blumenthal remains relatively unknown outside elite political and media circles.
A treasure trove of Clinton emails, released this week by the US State Department, revealed new details about the extent to which Blumenthal had unofficially advised Clinton on several issues during her tenure with the agency, including acting as a go-between to try to persuade the former secretary of state to help support Tony Blair’s bid to become EU president. In June, following earlier revelations about emails to Clinton, Blumenthal testified in front of a congressional committee about memos he had emailed Clinton on Libya around the time of the Benghazi attack on 11 September 2012.A treasure trove of Clinton emails, released this week by the US State Department, revealed new details about the extent to which Blumenthal had unofficially advised Clinton on several issues during her tenure with the agency, including acting as a go-between to try to persuade the former secretary of state to help support Tony Blair’s bid to become EU president. In June, following earlier revelations about emails to Clinton, Blumenthal testified in front of a congressional committee about memos he had emailed Clinton on Libya around the time of the Benghazi attack on 11 September 2012.
But how exactly did Blumenthal come to be held in such high regard by the Clintons?But how exactly did Blumenthal come to be held in such high regard by the Clintons?
The man who would become a Clinton family adviser was raised in Chicago and graduated from Brandeis University in Boston in 1969. It was there he began his career in journalism, working for the now defunct alternative weekly Real Paper.The man who would become a Clinton family adviser was raised in Chicago and graduated from Brandeis University in Boston in 1969. It was there he began his career in journalism, working for the now defunct alternative weekly Real Paper.
Through the 1980s, Blumenthal wrote for the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Vanity Fair and the New Republic. As the New Yorker’s Washington correspondent, he covered the first Clinton administration.Through the 1980s, Blumenthal wrote for the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Vanity Fair and the New Republic. As the New Yorker’s Washington correspondent, he covered the first Clinton administration.
In 1997, Blumenthal was hired as a special assistant and adviser to President Clinton. He served in the role for four years, during the impeachment case in which Clinton was ultimately acquitted. It has been reported that Blumenthal was responsible for defaming the White House intern Monica Lewinsky, circulating rumors that she was a “stalker”. In 2003 he published The Clinton Wars, about his time as a presidential assistant. Andrew Sullivan once called him “the most pro-Clinton writer on the planet”.In 1997, Blumenthal was hired as a special assistant and adviser to President Clinton. He served in the role for four years, during the impeachment case in which Clinton was ultimately acquitted. It has been reported that Blumenthal was responsible for defaming the White House intern Monica Lewinsky, circulating rumors that she was a “stalker”. In 2003 he published The Clinton Wars, about his time as a presidential assistant. Andrew Sullivan once called him “the most pro-Clinton writer on the planet”.
In 2007, Blumenthal advised Hillary Clinton on her first bid for the presidency. She had reportedly suggested hiring Blumenthal at the State Department, but that was rejected by the White House, according to Politico.In 2007, Blumenthal advised Hillary Clinton on her first bid for the presidency. She had reportedly suggested hiring Blumenthal at the State Department, but that was rejected by the White House, according to Politico.
In response to questions about her correspondence with Blumenthal, Clinton said in May: “I have many, many old friends, and I always think it’s important, when you get into politics, to have friends you had before you were in politics … I’m going to keep talking to my old friends, whoever they are.” In response to questions about her use of private email, Clinton said in May: “I have many, many old friends, and I always think it’s important, when you get into politics, to have friends you had before you were in politics … I’m going to keep talking to my old friends, whoever they are.”