Students at the University of Las Vegas are asking Hillary Clinton to return the “outrageous” $225,000 speaking fee she reportedly will receive for a speech she’s scheduled to give at the school in October.
“We really appreciate anybody who would come to raise money for the university,” Daniel Waqar, the student government’s public relations director, said on a Nevada news television show, Business Insider reported.
“But anybody who’s being paid $225,000 to come speak, we think that’s a little bit outrageous,” he said.
“And we’d like Secretary Clinton, respectfully, to gracefully return the money to the university or the foundation.”
Elias Benjelloun, the UNLV student body president, echoed Mr. Waqar’s remarks.
“When we heard $225,000, we weren’t so thrilled,” he said. “We would hope that Hillary Clinton commits to higher education … and returns part or whole of the amount she receives for speaking.”
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A UNLV spokeswoman said the $225,000 is covered by private sponsorships and not public money.
The money is paid to Clinton’s public speaking agency and goes to the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, The Review-Journal reported.
The Clintons’ wealth has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks after the former secretary of state described she and her husband as “dead broke” when they left the White House in 2001.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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