Sen. Coons: 'No Underlying Ethics Violation' With Clinton Foundation

The growing scandal concerning Hillary Clinton and the revelations in an Associated Press story detailing meetings with donors to the Clinton Foundation are more a matter of "poor perception" than any kind of unethical or criminal activity, Sen. Chris Coons said Thursday.

"The reality, though, there may be smoke here, but there is no fire," the Delaware Democrat told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program. "There is no underlying ethics violation, because neither Bill or Hillary Clinton take a salary from the Clinton Foundation, and the underlying work of the Clinton Foundation, is incredibly admirable."

Further, Coons told the show's hosts, Bill and Hillary Clinton are taking proactive steps to have different roles in the foundation, should she be elected as president.

"I frankly think it's regrettable if [the Clinton Global Initiative] has to shut down their annual conferences," said Coons. "They do terrific work."

Further, Coons said that many of the wealthy donors who ended up meeting with Clinton, such as Melinda Gates, would have ended up on her schedule, even without making hefty donations.

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