John,
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is facing ethics questions tied to her husband, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. But he may have a solution for her, and you’re not going to like it.
The Transportation Inspector General, who was investigating her ethics issues, recently retired. Guess who controls when and if a permanent Inspector General could be confirmed if President Trump makes a nomination?
That’s right: Mitch McConnell, whose position has led to a number of the scandals she’s under investigation for, has the ability to control the confirmation process and timing. As we’ve seen before, with his blocking of a hearing for Merrick Garland, he’s not above stonewalling nominations for political benefit.
This is a textbook example of a conflict of interest. Elaine Chao’s ethics scandals must be fully investigated, as members of Congress demanded. The fact that the watchdog who would continue to oversee these important investigations could be held up by Chao’s husband is plainly absurd.
We can’t let issues like this go. Our processes of accountability have never been more necessary than in the Trump administration, so it comes as no surprise that Trump has been so reluctant to appoint the watchdogs that would bring further scandals to light. CREW won’t let him get away with it, but we need your help to spread the word.
For more about McConnell’s big conflict, read my piece on CREW’s website—and then share on Facebook, Twitter, or by forwarding this email.
Thank you,
Donald Sherman
Deputy Director, CREW
