NEW YORK — Hillary Rodham Clinton said she did not realize that a Muslim group was behind a June 13 fund-raiser for her Senate campaign, and she will return $50,000 raised at its Boston event.
"All $50,000, every penny of it, is going back," Clinton said Wednesday.
The fund-raiser was sponsored by the American Muslim Alliance, whose national president, Agha Saeed, told the Daily News that U.N. resolutions allow Palestinians to use armed force against Israel. Saeed has also said Palestinians should pursue their own state in the West Bank and Gaza first through peaceful means.
"I strongly disagree with the positions taken by this group," Clinton said.
She said her campaign thought the fund-raiser was organized by a Boston businessman, Shahid Ahmed Khan. No phone number could be found for Khan.
Asked if she had been "set up" — in other words, if the organization intentionally concealed its sponsorship of the event — she said, "I don't know."
But she added, "Somebody was trying to take advantage of me."
Joined Wednesday night in New York by her husband and daughter Chelsea, the first lady was feted at a special birthday gala, complete with cake and song, that brought in $2 million for her Senate campaign.
Comedian Chevy Chase and actor Tom Cruise flew in especially to greet her. "I just think you're going to be a wonderful senator from this state," Cruise told her.