The New York Times editorial board has just published an Op Ed titled Elaine Chao, Mitch McConnell and Questions of Conflict (of interest) www.nytimes.com/… This is well worth reading.
The essay examines allegations that Secretary Chao has a top staffer dedicated to Kentucky transportation projects — which coincidentally politically benefit her unpopular husband, the notorious Moscow Mitch McConnell. Chao also appears to have conflicts of interest with her late to divest stock holdings and sketchy links to her uber rich parents and their family business back in China. Chao’s folks have provided large monetary gifts and campaign contributions to the happy couple, Chao and her husband Mitch.
At the risk of exceeding fair use, here are some excerpts from the NYT Op Ed for those who don’t have access.
According to an analysis by Politico, in her first 14 months as transportation secretary, one in four of the scheduled meetings with local officials on Ms. Chao’s calendar were with Kentuckians. (The two states next on the list, Indiana and Georgia, accounted for only 6 percent each.) Some of the meetings were set up at the request of McConnell staff members, who let his wife’s office know which officials were “friends” or “loyal supporters.”
and then there is this
The House Oversight and Reform Committee is investigating the secretary for possible conflicts of interest involving Foremost Group, a New York-based shipping company owned by her father and sisters. Much of the company’s business is centered in China, and the Chao family, The Times reported in June, enjoys “an extraordinary proximity to power in China for an American family, marked not only by board memberships in state companies, but also by multiple meetings with the country’s former top leader.”
The Times noted, “Over the years, Ms. Chao has repeatedly used her connections and celebrity status in China to boost the profile of the company.”
Ms. Chao is also under investigation for her failure last year to divest her stock in Vulcan Materials. Vulcan is a producer of construction materials often used in highway construction. Chao formerly served on its board of directors. Before her confirmation in 2017, Ms. Chao signed an ethics agreement agreeing to sell her holdings in Vulcan by April 2018. However, she did not do so until June of this year, just days after The Wall Street Journal reported on the matter. The secretary’s office blames an error by Ms. Chao’s accountant for the lapse.
It is worth pointing out that on April 27 2018 the price of Vulcan Materials stock was down to $112.40 from a previous high in January of $141. When Chao finally got around to selling, the price had recovered to more than $130. Her accountant’s ‘lapse’ was brilliantly timed.
The swamp Trump has built extends as far and wide as can be imagined.
I’m not sure there is a single member of Mr. Trump’s cabinet who isn’t corrupt.