Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao Used Office to Benefit Family Shipping Business

| Importance: 8/10 | Status: confirmed

Inspector General report revealed Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao repeatedly used her office and staff to benefit her family’s shipping business, Foremost Group, which has extensive ties to China. Chao directed staff to help with father’s travel, edit his Wikipedia page, send his books to Chinese officials, and promote the family business. She planned official trip to China including family members and meetings beneficial to Foremost Group before ethics officials raised concerns. Her husband, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, received millions in gifts from her father. DOJ declined to prosecute despite IG criminal referral.

Key Actors

Elaine Chao Mitch McConnell Department of Transportation Foremost Group James Chao

Tags

corruption conflict-of-interest china shipping-industry abuse-of-office family-enrichment transportation-department

Sources (3)

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