Elaine Chao Used DOT Resources For Personal Errands, Family Business, IG Report Says – By Jaclyn Diaz (NPR) / Mar 4 2021
In her time as former President Donald Trump’s Transportation Secretary, Elaine Chao repeatedly used her position and agency staff to help family members that run a shipping business with ties to China, in potential violation of federal ethics laws, according to an inspector general report.
The findings were uncovered in a Transportation Department’s inspector general report released Wednesday that detailed the office’s investigation into Chao’s dealings as secretary.
The inspector general referred the findings to the Justice Department in December 2020. But with the Trump administration coming to a close, the DOJ declined to open its own investigation into the matter citing “there is not predication” to do so.
Chao, who is married to Sen. Mitch McConnell, announced her resignation Jan 7, saying she was deeply troubled by the previous day’s mob that attacked the Capitol “in a way that I simply cannot set aside.” Her term was set to end at President Biden’s swearing-in.
