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In reply to the discussion: Looks like Elaine Chao is in trouble: [View all]BumRushDaShow
(128,940 posts)43. Didn't get chance to LBN that (too many others)
But WaPo's version -
Link to tweet
TEXT
The Washington Post
@washingtonpost
Ethics concerns led to criminal referral involving former transportation secretary Elaine Chao, inspector general says
Ethics concerns led to criminal referral involving Elaine Chao, inspector general says
Prosecutors declined to prosecute after the inspector general investigation.
washingtonpost.com
6:31 PM · Mar 3, 2021
@washingtonpost
Ethics concerns led to criminal referral involving former transportation secretary Elaine Chao, inspector general says
Ethics concerns led to criminal referral involving Elaine Chao, inspector general says
Prosecutors declined to prosecute after the inspector general investigation.
washingtonpost.com
6:31 PM · Mar 3, 2021
Ethics concerns led to criminal referral involving Elaine Chao, inspector general says
By Michael Laris
March 3, 2021 at 6:27 p.m. EST
Investigators from the Transportation Departments internal watchdog found evidence of potential ethical violations by former secretary Elaine Chao, and referred the case to the Justice Department for prosecution in December, according to documents released Wednesday. The United States Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Departments Public Integrity Section declined pursue the case, according to investigators from Department of Transportations Office of Inspector General.
There were a number of potential ethics concerns arising from the actions of the Secretary and Office of the Secretary (OST) staff under her direction, investigators wrote. Among them were tasking political appointees to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about the status of a work permit application submitted by a foreign student studying at a U.S. university who was a recipient of Chao family philanthropy, according to investigators.
The [U.S. attorneys office] stated that there may be ethical and/or administrative issues to address but there is not predication to open a criminal investigation, investigators from the Inspector Generals office said. The department also provided public affairs and media support to Chaos father, investigators said. He was the founder of the Foremost Group, a shipping company headed by her sister. Investigators said Chao also used the staff time of department employees for tasks for the Secretary that appear to be personal in nature.
Among the personal tasks, according to a description from investigators, was Chao emailing a staffer in her office with the subject line: Xmas ornaments. The email directed the staff member to sort out and fedex on Monday to Dr. Chao, and my sisters. Please draft a cover note let me see it-telling them what we are sending. Chao is married to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
This story will be updated.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/elaine-chao-ig-report/2021/03/03/169d0e36-7c53-11eb-b3d1-9e5aa3d5220c_story.html
By Michael Laris
March 3, 2021 at 6:27 p.m. EST
Investigators from the Transportation Departments internal watchdog found evidence of potential ethical violations by former secretary Elaine Chao, and referred the case to the Justice Department for prosecution in December, according to documents released Wednesday. The United States Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Departments Public Integrity Section declined pursue the case, according to investigators from Department of Transportations Office of Inspector General.
There were a number of potential ethics concerns arising from the actions of the Secretary and Office of the Secretary (OST) staff under her direction, investigators wrote. Among them were tasking political appointees to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about the status of a work permit application submitted by a foreign student studying at a U.S. university who was a recipient of Chao family philanthropy, according to investigators.
The [U.S. attorneys office] stated that there may be ethical and/or administrative issues to address but there is not predication to open a criminal investigation, investigators from the Inspector Generals office said. The department also provided public affairs and media support to Chaos father, investigators said. He was the founder of the Foremost Group, a shipping company headed by her sister. Investigators said Chao also used the staff time of department employees for tasks for the Secretary that appear to be personal in nature.
Among the personal tasks, according to a description from investigators, was Chao emailing a staffer in her office with the subject line: Xmas ornaments. The email directed the staff member to sort out and fedex on Monday to Dr. Chao, and my sisters. Please draft a cover note let me see it-telling them what we are sending. Chao is married to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
This story will be updated.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/elaine-chao-ig-report/2021/03/03/169d0e36-7c53-11eb-b3d1-9e5aa3d5220c_story.html
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Lucky for her, the 'IOKIYAR Doctrine' is the legally established precedence in all such cases (nt)
Hugh_Lebowski
Mar 2021
#12
When she was Secretary of Labor under bush she was the most callus and uncaring person
JohnSJ
Mar 2021
#14
"There are ways of dealing with him." Remember Schumer in Maddow's interview?
Gaugamela
Mar 2021
#28
All of these scumbags would have just carried on raking it in if Trump had been elected again
LiberalLovinLug
Mar 2021
#35
Why is everybody high-fiving? It says she was referred and they declined to prosecute
Arazi
Mar 2021
#44
her family is neck deep with Asian criminal cartels, I hope she is convicted and rots in prison
Celerity
Mar 2021
#47
I wonder if anything will come of this. Chao, of course, ought to be in prison
PatrickforB
Mar 2021
#58
Well, I don't know if you saw it, but there were some real fishy things with the vote county in KY.
PatrickforB
Mar 2021
#85
DECEMBER? How deep into the Trump trash "mine" did they have to dig to find this hidden gem?
jaxexpat
Mar 2021
#81
Mrs. McConnell might be able to provide some leverage, if properly squeezed.
lagomorph777
Mar 2021
#82
Are there any GOPers who aren't crooked as a dog's hind leg? It's like their religion. nt
Evolve Dammit
Mar 2021
#83