Judicial Watch said newly released FBI records show Anthony “Tony” Rodham was investigated in connection with an alleged Romanian vehicle importation scheme after the bureau took years to process a FOIA request.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Judicial Watch said newly obtained FBI records show that Anthony “Tony” Rodham, the late brother of Hillary Clinton, was the subject of a 1996 criminal fraud investigation involving allegations tied to a proposed Romanian vehicle importation venture.
The organization reported that it received 77 pages of heavily redacted FBI records through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The documents concern an inquiry into possible wire and mail fraud connected to efforts to import Romanian ARO vehicles into the United States.
One FBI document stated that “the investigation has assumed sensitive political aspects because it has been determined that ANTHONY ‘TONY’ RODHAM, a brother of HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, may have played a role …”
Judicial Watch filed its December 2025 lawsuit after the FBI did not respond to a June 2019 FOIA request seeking investigative reports on Rodham. The case was filed as Judicial Watch, Inc. v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:25-cv-04237).
The FBI acknowledged in August 2019 that it had located more than 13,000 pages of records responsive to the request, along with audio and video files that could also be responsive. After years of delay, the bureau again acknowledged in May 2025 that it had responsive records and asked whether Judicial Watch still wanted the request processed. Judicial Watch said it remained interested and did not modify the scope of its request. The group filed suit after receiving no further response.
The records include references to a 1995 proposal involving the importation of vehicles from Romania, including the ARO 24, described at the time as having a base price of $9,828 with air conditioning and a driver’s-side air bag, and the ARO 10, a smaller two-door vehicle starting at $7,995.
An April 1996 FBI report from the bureau’s Savannah office said Rodham was the subject of an investigation opened by the Miami Field Office under the case title “Anthony D. Rodham” and case number 196D-MM-79121. Judicial Watch noted that the FBI’s “196” designation refers to wire fraud.
FBI records dated June 1996 described an investigation involving Tony Rodham and two associates connected to East European Imports Inc., or EEI, a company based in Coral Gables, Florida.
“Captioned matter is an investigation involving the solicitation by Subjects [Redacted] and [Redacted] of auto dealers throughout the United States. [Redacted] and [Redacted] own and operate EAST EUROPEAN IMPORTS, INC. (EEI), a U.S. Company, from corporate offices located in Coral Gables, Florida. [Emphasis in original] They have allegedly made claims to prospective dealers that EEI has the exclusive American rights for the importation of two models of a Romanian four-wheel drive vehicle, known as the ‘ARO’,” the records state.
The FBI records said questions had emerged over whether EEI had a legitimate agreement with the Romanian government or with the Romanian manufacturer or exporter of the ARO vehicles.
“Questions have now arisen as to whether, in fact, EEI ever had a legitimate contract with the Romanian government, and/or with the Rumanian manufacturer or exporter of the ARO, to import these vehicles to the U.S. The investigation has assumed sensitive political aspects because it has been determined that ANTHONY ‘TONY’ RODHAM, a brother of HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, may have played a role in securing the alleged ARO importation rights on behalf of EEI. [Emphasis in original] RODHAM travelled to Romania with [Redacted]and [Redacted] and met with Romanian officials in this regard. There are credible allegations RODHAM was directly told that [Redacted] and [Redacted] had submitted fraudulent and inflated financial statements to Romanian authorities in order to support EEI’s credibility as a viable importer of the ARO. Despite this notification, RODHAM has purportedly continued to promote EEI to the Romanian government as a legitimate importer of the vehicles,” the records state.
The records also described how prospective dealers were allegedly solicited for deposits to obtain exclusive franchise rights to sell ARO vehicles in specific territories.
“To obtain an ‘exclusive’ franchise for the sale of ARO vehicles within a specific geographic territory, EEI representatives have solicited deposits of at least $30,000 from each prospective ARO dealer. These monies were provided to EEI as partial payment for an ARO ‘Parts, Special Tools and Sign Package’, with the balance of monies [$39,900] for full payment of the franchise (a total cost of $69,900) due to EEI upon the company’s acceptance of the dealer’s application,” the records state.
The FBI documents said no ARO vehicles had been imported by EEI from Romania for sale in the United States.
“It should be noted that, to date, NO ARO vehicles have ever been imported by EEI from Romania for sale in the United States. [Emphasis in original] Miami investigation has revealed, in fact, that there is very little likelihood an ARO vehicle will ever be imported to America by EEI. [Emphasis in original] Miami is also aware Subjects[Redacted] and [Redacted] were involved during 1986 through 1987 in a virtually identical scheme as the one described herein to import the ARO vehicle from Romania to the U.S. and to the Caribbean. At that time, their business was known as ROMAN MOTORS CORPORATION,” the records state.
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said the records raise additional questions about what remains unreleased.
“After more than two decades of delay, these FBI records reveal a criminal investigation involving Hillary Clinton’s brother and raise serious questions about what remains hidden in the government’s files not only about Hillary’s brother but Hillary Clinton herself,” Fitton said.
Rodham, who died in 2019, was previously scrutinized for using his connection to the Clintons in business ventures. The New York Times reported that Rodham described himself as a “facilitator” and pursued opportunities that included addressing Chinese investor conferences and serving on an advisory board for a company seeking permission to mine gold in Haiti. He also sought contracts in post-earthquake Haiti, including a proposed $22 million housing deal while Bill Clinton co-chaired the recovery commission. The proposal collapsed.
Rodham and former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe also drew scrutiny over the EB-5 cash-for-visas program while Hillary Clinton was secretary of state. They raised at least $46 million from investors for GreenTech Automotive, an electric-car company that later filed for bankruptcy in February 2018.
Judicial Watch has previously released records involving the Clinton State Department and Clinton Foundation donors. In August 2017, the organization said it uncovered State Department records showing repeated use of unsecured communications for classified information and examples of Clinton Foundation donors receiving special treatment. Those records included instances in which Rodham appeared to seek help through Hillary Clinton’s aides.
In one January 2010 email, Clinton confidential assistant Monica Hanley forwarded Huma Abedin a request from Rodham involving three issues: help with a “green card renewal,” a visit by someone Abedin said they “wanted to regret,” and a job for someone whose CV Rodham had forwarded to the State Department.
In July 2017, Judicial Watch said it received State Department records involving Huma Abedin and special treatment for major Clinton Foundation and political donors. The heavily redacted records from Abedin’s nongovernment account included an email from Rodham to Abedin in which he appeared to act as a go-between for Clinton Foundation donor Richard Park. The records also showed Clinton Foundation executive Doug Band instructing Abedin to “show love” to Clinton donor Andrew Liveris.
The newly released FBI records add another chapter to long-running questions about Rodham’s business dealings and the extent of unreleased government files involving him. Judicial Watch said the FOIA litigation followed years of delays despite the FBI’s acknowledgement that it possessed thousands of pages of responsive records.
Original article
Comments