If the 2016 election is about anything, it is about campaign finance reform and getting corruption out of politics. If one doubts this, they need only look at the recent success of fringe candidates that have not been handpicked by their parties.

That is what makes these facts so important: while politicians have been receiving massive payments for speaking engagements for decades, one candidate’s speeches are worth noting in particular.

bank

In just two years between 2013 and 2015, Hillary Clinton was paid almost $3 million from 12 speeches she gave to big banks. The banks she spoke to included Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley. Hillary’s bank payouts in these three years are more than most Americans will see for their entire lives.

These numbers coupled with Hillary’s documented close ties with Wall Street and the banking sector adds further fuel to the idea that Hillary is at least in some part beholden to the wants and needs of Big Bankers and Wall Street. Such close ties often run deeper than a few speaking engagements.

Sydney Robinson is a political writer for the Ring of Fire Network. She has also appeared in political news videos for Ring of Fire. Sydney has a degree in English Literature from the University of West Florida, and has an active interest in politics, social justice, and environmental issues. She would love to hear from you on Twitter @SydneyMkay or via email at srobinson@ringoffireradio.com