On the campaign trail, Senator Hillary Clinton’s ties to the retail giant Wal-Mart are coming under new scrutiny today following the release of videotape during her time as a company board member. Clinton sat on Wal-Mart’s board between 1986 and 1992. In a videotape released by the Center for Public Integrity from February 1991, Clinton heaps praise on Wal-Mart at a ceremony marking the reopening of its original store in Arkansas.

Hillary Clinton: “I’m so proud of this company and everything that it represents. You know, anytime I travel and I tell people I’m from Arkansas, and now finally they’re raising some real positive things about us, no matter where I go. And Wal-Mart’s on top of the list, and everybody wants me to tell them about Wal-Mart and Sam Walton and Helen Walton and all of the Wal-Mart associates. And it just makes me feel real good about what we’re able to do and what we can show and the kind of leadership we’re given.”

Clinton has sought to distance herself from Wal-Mart during her presidential run. Her campaign biography makes no mention of her time there. The videotape also shows Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton praising Clinton as the “best board member” the company has ever had.

Sam Walton: “In my opinion, you are one of the finest lawyers, legal persons, that I’ve ever met or ever known. And without any question, you’ve added more to our board than about anybody we’ve ever had on that board. For the Wal-Mart board, you’ve done a tremendous job.”

The Clinton tapes were one of 15,000 made available by a small Kansas production company hired to film Wal-Mart events for nearly three decades. The company, Flagler Productions, says it’s now looking to sell its tapes to parties including unions, plaintiff lawyers and documentary filmmakers. Wal-Mart says it’s reviewing its legal options over the potential footage sales.