Hillary Clinton 2016 Attack Ad Uses Elizabeth Warren's Voice, But A Republican Group Is Funding It

A new attack ad leveled at former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that uses sound clips of Elizabeth Warren doesn’t actually come from the Democratic U.S. Senator from Massachusetts but instead was paid for by American Crossroads, a Republican group not tied to Warren. The ad, titled “Rigged,” went live on Sunday and alleged that Clinton would have a conflict of interest if she were elected president because the Clinton Foundation, the group founded by former President Bill Clinton and which Hillary became involved with after stepping down as secretary of state, accepts donations from foreign governments.

“Powerful interests have tried to capture Washington and rig the system in their favor. The power of well-funded special interests tilts our democracy away from the people and toward the powerful,” Warren says as images of Hillary Clinton are shown with Middle Eastern leaders. The ad from American Crossroads, which backs Republican candidates, claims the Clinton Foundation “took millions from foreign governments,” including up to $5 million from the United Arab Emirates, up to $25 million from Saudi Arabia and “potentially millions from Qatar,” which American Crossroads describes as “a prominent backer of Hamas,” the Palestinian militant group. Warren’s voice continues: “Action is required to defend our great democracy against those that would see it perverted into one more rigged game where the rich and the powerful always win.”

Progressive Democrats are urging Warren to run for president, but the Massachusetts senator has consistently denied that she’ll mount a 2016 campaign. American Crossroads acknowledges that it uses Warren’s voice in its ad, but unless the watcher is aware that American Crossroads backs Republican candidates, it may be unclear if it actually came from Warren. American Crossroads’ leadership includes Mike Duncan, a former Republican National Committee chairman, and Steven Law, deputy labor secretary under former President George W. Bush and an ex-staffer to Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

The screen then goes dark, followed by the words, “Powerful Foreign Governments Are Ready for Hillary,” a take on the Ready for Hillary Super PAC that is gearing up for a 2016 run by the former secretary of state. “Are We?”

The ad isn’t the first attacking Hillary Clinton. An attack that more clearly comes from the GOP was launched last month that goes after the former first lady for her sky-high fees on the speaking circuit. Watch the ad below: