The image appears to reference the Uranium One controversy, a long-debunked conspiracy theory that alleged Hillary Clinton facilitated the sale of U.S. uranium assets to Russia in exchange for financial contributions to the Clinton Foundation. Let’s break down the claims in the image and examine the facts.
Fact-Checking the “Uranium One” Claims Against Hillary Clinton
What Is the Uranium One Deal?
Uranium One was a Canadian mining company with U.S. uranium assets. In 2010, the Russian state-owned company Rosatom acquired a 51% controlling stake in Uranium One. Because Uranium One controlled some U.S. uranium, the deal required approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)—a multi-agency panel that includes representatives from nine U.S. agencies, including the State Department.
At the time, Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State, and her department was one of nine agencies that reviewed the deal. However, she had no individual authority to approve or reject the sale. Ultimately, CFIUS approved the deal unanimously.
Debunking the Claims in the Image
The image claims:
- A Pentagon audit found new evidence of wrongdoing.
- The deal was “infamous” and involved corruption.
- The Clintons personally profited by nearly $100 million.
Reality Check:
- There is no Pentagon audit proving any wrongdoing by Clinton. This claim is entirely unverified.
- The deal was approved by a committee, not by Clinton alone. She had no veto power over the sale.
- The uranium never left the U.S. – U.S. law forbids exporting uranium without government approval, and there’s no evidence any was sent to Russia.
- The claim that the Clintons made $100 million is false. The Clinton Foundation received donations from some individuals connected to Uranium One, but there is no evidence linking these donations to the deal.
Investigations and Findings
Several investigations—including one by the Trump administration’s Department of Justice—found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Hillary Clinton or the Obama administration.
- FactCheck.org (2017) found “no evidence” that Clinton played a role in approving the sale.
- PolitiFact rated claims about Clinton “selling uranium to Russia” as false.
- Republican-led congressional committees found no direct wrongdoing after extensive investigations.
Why Does This Misinformation Persist?
The Uranium One narrative was heavily promoted by right-wing media and Russian disinformation campaigns, especially during the 2016 election. Despite being debunked multiple times, memes and misleading graphics, like the one in the image, continue to circulate.
Conclusion
The Uranium One story is a conspiracy theory, not a proven scandal. The Pentagon did not release any audit proving Clinton profited from the deal, and there is no legitimate evidence that she influenced its approval. Multiple investigations—including those under Donald Trump’s administration—have cleared Clinton of wrongdoing.
This image appears to be misleading propaganda rather than factual reporting.
