Rodin linked to embroiled Clinton confidant

FORMER University of Pennsylvania president Judith Rodin may be collateral damage in a federal investigation into a longtime personal aide to Hillary Clinton.

Huma Abedin, vice chairwoman for Clinton's 2016 campaign for president, and wife of sexter and former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, is accused of conflicts of interest, of violating government employment rules and receiving overpayments for time she took off work during her tenure as an official in the State Department.

According to news reports, a probe initiated by the U.S. Inspector General suggests that Abedin leveraged her State Department job to facilitate a White House appointment for Rodin, a client of the consulting firm Teneo Strategies.

Rodin, the Philly-born Ivy League philanthropist, is now president of the private, New York-based Rockefeller Foundation.

Reached by phone yesterday, a spokesman for the Rockefeller Foundation had "no comment" on the story, versions of which have appeared in the Washington Examiner and the Washington Post.

According to sources in Rodin's camp, this story boils down to a political fight between Clinton and an Iowa Republican senator, Charles Grassley, who started asking questions about Abedin's alleged theft of public money.

Rodin's people claim to have never seen any of the email correspondence that allegedly substantiates the Abedin overpayment claims. They also maintain that the only top-level post Rodin ever took was when President Obama appointed her to serve as a member of the White House Council for Community Solutions in 2010 - a nomination Rodin's staff says was never solicited by Teneo Strategies.

Celebrity boxing recruiter Damon Feldman is back at it again.

He's always on the prowl for famous contenders in the ring, and he just may have found the prettiest one yet.

"Boxing is my favorite sport," said South Philly's own Natalie Didonato, a Temple University grad probably best known for her role on season 5 of VH1's "Mob Wives."

"Nat D," as she's affectionately dubbed, claims to be the cousin of Frank "Frankie Flowers" D'Alfonso, of the Bruno crime family.

Now, the 35-year old actress is looking for a local opponent to join her for the slugfest.

"I'm looking for somebody who will give me a run for my money," Didonato said yesterday.

Logistics of the fight have yet to be settled, but Didonato said, "These events are good for Philadelphia," and for Feldman's celebrity-boxing brand. (She and he met during the taping of "Mob Wives.")

"It's a good look and it's good for clout," she told me.

Asked what would happen should Didonato take an unexpected beating, she said she's not worried.

"I can hold my own. . . . I'm just looking for an opponent to come to the table and say, 'I'm on board.' "

Didonato said the first match will be in Philadelphia. She also will be in town on Aug. 28 at Club Aura (628 S. Front St.) to promote a new reality show she's in.

Concurrently, Feldman is holding a press conference tonight to promote another fight between Richard "Dicky" Eklund Jr., the former professional welterweight, and Joey O'Donnell, a boxer from the 'burbs and former 1972 Olympic Trials finalist. O'Donnell was inducted into the Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame in 1996.

Eklund was portrayed by Christian Bale in the 2010 drama, "The Fighter." Mark Wahlberg starred as Eklund's younger half-brother, Micky Ward.

Eklund and O'Donnell will be at tonight's presser at 7:30 p.m. at A.J. Stephens Bar & Crabhouse (105 S. MacDade Blvd., Glenolden).

Steely Dan and Elvis Costello played at the Susquehanna Bank Center Monday night in Camden, but they crossed the bridge over to Philly for their after-party.

Sources say that Steely Dan band members - as well as Costello himself - showed up with a throng of people Monday night at the Irish Pub (2007 Walnut St.).

Apparently, several roadies who also work for Willie Nelson - who is reportedly a longtime patron of Atlantic City's Irish Pub - stopped in for a few brews and stayed all night.

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