Clinton won't raise funds for foundation

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- A memo shows Bill Clinton agreed not to personally seek funds for his global charity, removing an obstacle to his wife becoming U.S. secretary of State.

President-elect Barack Obama's transition team turned over the five-page document to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which would conduct confirmation hearings on the nomination of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., to the post, CNN reported Friday.

Concerns had been raised about possible conflicts of interest because the Clinton Global Initiative receives millions of dollars in funds from foreign governments.

The document, obtained by CNN, stated that the former president agreed in writing he would not personally solicit funds for the Initiative, an annual Clinton Foundation event that solicits contributions worldwide to address global challenges. In the document, the foundation also agreed to split off the Clinton Global Initiative from the rest of its operation and incorporate the initiative as a separate entity, CNN reported