The House Oversight Committee has opened a probe into the head of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The congressional committee is investigating Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s possible conflicts of interest, ethics violations, and “misstatements of fact.”
The House Oversight Committee sent Secretary Chao a letter on Monday announcing the probe.
“The Committee is investigating several allegations relating to your service as Secretary of Transportation, including troubling questions about whether you are using your office to benefit yourself and your family,” reads the letter signed by House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings.
The Committee is asking for all communications between the DOT and Chao’s family’s business, the Foremost Group, a shipping company comprised founded by her father and currently run by her sister. Though the headquarters of the company is listed in New York City, it has subsidiaries in the tax-haven Marshall Islands and all of its ships fly foreign flags. The company has allegedly received hundreds of millions of dollars in low-interest loans from state-run Chinese banks, does a large portion of its business with China, and Secretary Chao has made multiple appearances alongside her father on Chinese media.
“You have appeared alongside your father, the founder of Foremost Group, in at least a dozen Chinese media interviews – many of which were behind the official seal of the Department of Transportation,” Cummings writes in the letter. “During some of these interviews, your father touted your influence within the United States government and boasted about his access to President Trump on Air Force One.”
Additionally, the letter makes note of the fact that Chao failed to follow through on a promise to divest from a company over which she had influence as Administrator. Chao only divested once that fact came to light thanks to media reports.
“We look forward to responding to the Committee’s request,” said a DOT spokesman. “Media attacks targeting the Secretary’s family are stale and only attempt to undermine her long career of public service.”
It appears that the Oversight Committee may not be looking in to other allegations of conflicts of interest concerning reports that Chao has used her position to give preferential treatment to Kentucky in order to benefit her husband, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
Source: overdrive, freightwaves, wsj, bloomberg, politico
Harley D. says
Good! Couldn’t happen to a better person! The worst DOT Director in History! This is what happens when women are put in positions of authority, ONLY because of Affirmative Action and DON’T have the needed experience. But have “Other Interests”, that are their OWN Selfish Desires!! Especially someone with “ties” to Beijing and Communist China! When I was in the Military, back during the Cold War. we were always taught! “You can Trust the Communist’s to be Communists”! But that is ALL, you can Trust them for! She can’t be FIRED Soon Enough!!!
Michelle says
She wasn’t put there because she’s a woman, and she wasn’t put there because of affirmative action. She was put there because she’s Mitch McConnell’s wife.
CW says
Good response, she was put there because of old crooked Mitch.
bobtrucks says
Moscow Mitch
Bruce Wyatt says
🤣
Harold Hart says
Thats the dummist reason, shes a WOMAN. I did not like her from the beginning or her husband, forked tongue mitch. But no one is yet investigating Hillory and her rapist husband. The media is also not concerned with Biden and his chinese and russian business deals. I say put them all under investigation. Hell, lets investigate congress.
BOB the trucker says
Yes. Lets make WE The People the Jury and have justice served for US finally. Put all those crooks and fraud artists in a tin can and launch them into space so they cant contaminate this planet anymore.
I also think Pelosi and Schumer share a brain cell. Mitch and Chao should be in prison.
Bruce Wyatt says
Let’s not forget mr. Bidens long ties with organized crime, dating back to his early years in the Senate. Close ties to the mob…..
Richard Lively says
Affirmative Action? Affirmative Action wouldn’t have Existed if Governments of Federal, State and Local Governments weren’t so Racist with Afro Americans.. And she’s Chinese. Get your History straight with the Truth and the Facts about Affirmative Action next time…
Billy Jones says
Hm, This doesn’t look good.
Kelly W says
Lol it doesn’t. However, until it’s over and even if there’s any significant wrong doing found. Don’t expect much if anything substantial done about it. Even a resignation and fine won’t matter to the millions that was potentially made. The risk being well worth the reward!
David says
Seems like it’s not to clear as why she’s in DOT
Harold Hart says
A gift to Mitch for his cooperation.
Christopher says
The Chinese Trojan horse!!
Tom says
I think you’re confusing her with Diane Feinstein’s driver.
Bruce Wyatt says
Diane is a pistol packing, gun toter and she is totally against the public owning any guns
Robert Meager says
Anything that comes from Rep. Cummings should be looked at very closely for truthfulness. This is yet another attack on the Trump administration. It’ll never stop, till the swamp is drained.
sonny Pruitt says
That’s why they’re after Mitch and anyone who supports him,he’s helping drain large swaths of swamp.wonder if it ever occourd to them to just do the best job they can for the people and see how that works out. But that would cut into their game time.
Bruce Wyatt says
They stopped representing “The People ” a long time ago!!
omaer says
She’s married to Sen Mitch McConnell..Nothing will happen to her…business as usual
fred hess says
They will make trades to get what they want! Just another pawn! Hitler would be proud of our DOT!
sonny Pruitt says
Huhuhuhu Hitler? Ding dong.
Experienced Trucker says
Elijah Cummings worried about a Chinese scammer, using her position to profit from government. Who would’ve guessed? I wonder if HE ever paid that ‘mandatory’ federal fine for allowing HIS daughter to USE HIS CONGRESSIONAL PLATES for her Uber business. He himself is a do as I say, 🙈🙉🙊 not as I DO type of phony, in it for himself rep.
sonny Pruitt says
He needs to worry about his crime ridden drug infested district instead of playing tit for tat with McConnell. Didn’t hank Williams write a song about him,elijaaaahhh hooooooo!you poor ol wooden head.
mgj says
*Kawlijah
Clay says
Can’t be! She was appointed by trump! I’m sure it’s Obama’s fault!
sonny Pruitt says
Its just a jab at McConnell for exposing their corruption.you know, blacklist everyone around him,investigate everyone he knows, the usual. Forget education, national security, the economy or anything else that matters, let’s play political games with our time!
Bruce Wyatt says
You’re exactly right!
Tom says
I’ve had two comments censored here. These clowns are as bad as Facebook.
Jetlag says
Where there is smoke , there’s usually fire…..
sonny Pruitt says
Like with Russia? Let’s investigate her and anyone else McConnell knows for a few years at tax payers expenses. There’s gotta be something there there’s just gotta!!
CW says
Stop your commentary because none of it makes any sense. You’re probably not educated enough to understand the truth. Get your facts straight before posting dumb s***.
William Finney says
Waahh Waahh Waahh
sonny Pruitt says
Huhuhuhu clowns,they’ll do anything to play a political stunt,except actually help average Americans. Mitch McConnell has been showing them for what they are and him and everyone around him must pay!nothing to do with dot or chow.
Andrew H says
More probes. Less meaningful legislation or budgeting. Our tax dollars at work folks.
BOB the trucker says
DOT keeps everyone down and controlled. They have more power than the DOJ. The trucking industry is at an all-time low in every aspect. Now that she is exposed, all that will happen is she will become more famous and the truckers will be kept down more. The DOT officers will obey her commands and we pay. She’s not going out without doing something awful to hurt this nation more.
Bruce Wyatt says
Trucking industry is the most over regulated, deregulated industry in America! Everyone has their hands in our pockets always coming up with a new fee, tax etc. Never giving a thought as to weather the rates support the cost of operating, 2 more yrs. and I’m OUT!