United States Department of State Washington, D. .. 20520 JUL 171013 Dear Senator Grassley: Thank you for your letter of une 13 requesting information relating to Ms. Huma Abedin's tenure at the Department of State. Ms. Abedin worked as a full--time Department employee from January 22, 2009, through June 3, 2012, serving in the Office of the Secretary as one of two Deputy Chiefs of Staff. In that capacity, she advised the Secretary and supervised the operations of her schedule and travel. As reflected on her last public financial disclosure form (OGE-278), Ms. Abedin voluntarily ended her full--time employment with the Department on June 3, 2012. Ms. Abedin's report does not list any outside positions or employment arrangements as of June 3, 2012. The Department then retained Ms. Abedin's services as a senior adviser/expert, for which she was compensated at the hourly rate of a and was designated as a Special Government Employee (SGE). The United States Government uses SGES across the govemment to provide services and expertise that executive agencies require, recognizing that such employees may serve other clients or entities, subject to regulations. The effective date of Ms. Abedin's SGE appointment was June 3, 2012 (a Sunday that marked the beginning of a pay period). She served in this position until February 1, 2013, when she ended her services with the Department. Her services included advising and participating in planning for the Secretary's schedule and travel. Like other employees who perform services for the Department, Ms. Abedin was required to have a security clearance, and, in her case, she was able to continue her prior security clearance. Before starting her SGE position, Ms. Abedin acknowledged that she had read Department ethics guidance for new entrant filers. The Honorable Charles E. Grassley, United States Senate. -2- Finally, please be advised that, in response to your inquiry, Ms. Abedin sent the Department her response, which we are forwarding to you with this letter. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance in this or any other matter. Sincerely, Thomas B. Gibbons Acting Assistant Secretary Legislative Affairs Enclosure As stated. Huma Abedin 254 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010 Friday, July 5, 2013 Mr. Thomas B. Gibbons Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs Bureau of Legislative Affairs U..S. Department of State 2201 Street NW Washington, DC 20520 Mr. Richard C. Visek Deputy Legal Advisor Bureau of the Legal Advisor US. Department of State 2201 Street NW Washington, DC 20520 Via USPS 8: Email: ibbonsTB@state.gov VisekRC@state.gov Dear Assistant Secretary Gibbons 8: Deputy Legal Advisor Visek, I want to share the following information in conjunction with the State Department's response to a recent Congressional inquiry regarding my service to the Department. There is nothing I am prouder of than my service over the four years I worked for the Department in furtherance of our country's foreign policy goals. Accordingly, I want the Department to be able to share this information about my finances, which I recently chose to share publicly as part of my husband's campaign. From January 22, 2009 through June 3, 2012, I was a full--time State Department employee, serving in the office of the Secretary as one of two Deputy Chiefs of Staff. In that capacity, I advised the Secretary and supervised the operations for the Secretary's schedule and travel. The birth of my son in December 2011 led me to decide to spend the bulk of my time in New York City where my family lived. I therefore agreed to serve the Department as a consultant/SGE through the remaining six months ofthe Secretary's tenure. After completing the necessary paperwork and gaining approval from the Department's legal staff and human resources officials, I transitioned to a part--time consultant/Special Government Employee (56 E) effective June 4, 2012. I served in that capacity until February 1st, 2013, when I terminated my service with the Department. In the course of my husband's campaign, we released our tax returns and voluntarily disclosed that in addition to my work for the Department of State, I performed work for three others: 1. The Secretary of State in her personal capacity to help prepare for her transition from public '0 service; 2. The then William J. Clinton Foundation to assess the Foundation's ongoing programs and structure in planning for the Secretary's philanthropic activities (recently renamed the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation); and, 3. Teneo Holdings, a New York based advisory group, where I provided strategic advice and consulting services to the firm's management team, as well as helped organize a major annual firm event. I was not asked, nor did I undertake, any work on Teneo's behalf before the 0 Department {and I should note that it is my understanding that Teneo does not conduct business with the Department of State). I also was not asked, nor did I provide, insights about the Department, my work with the Secretary, or any government information to which I may have had access. And, I certainly never "gathered information from government sources for the purpose of informing investment decisions of Teneo's clients" as the Senate letter suggests- My husband and I voluntarily disclosed that in 2012 I earned $135,256 from my work for the Department of State -- both as a full--time employee and as a consultant. Our remaining income was as a result of consulting work performed both by my husband and me. Again, thank you and please don't hesitate to let me know if I can provide any further information to assist you in responding to this matter. Towards that end, consent to the Department of State releasing information regarding my employment with the Department in their letter to Senator Grassley for the purpose of responding to Senator Grass|ey's June 13 letter to the Secretary of State. Best Regards, I . uma Abedin 254 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10010