Chao did agree not to plan media events about her family without consulting DOT’s ethics office.. This happened after POLITICO reported on her media appearance with her father in which she promoted his personal story, his shipping business and his book.
She also asked her staff to inquire about the status of an application for a work permit for a foreign student studying at a US university and receiving an award from the philanthropic foundation of her family, the inspector said. -general found. And the report shows that Chao also used DOT resources and staff for personal tasks, such as looking after her father’s repairs in a store and sending Christmas decorations to her family.
Investigators from the IG office referred their findings to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its Department of Public Integrity in December, but both offices declined to conduct criminal investigations.
Chao could not be immediately reached for comment by the think tank of Hudson Institute, where she is a fellow.
“While praising the office of the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, I am disappointed that it was not completed and released while Secretary Chao was still in office,” said Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), One of the Home Transport Chairman, said. of two lawmakers who requested the investigation. “I am still disappointed that the justice department did not want to pursue the issues that the IG office confirmed in its investigation.”
The inspector general found no evidence to substantiate other allegations of misconduct by Chao. These include a number raised by POLITICO’s reporting, and that DOT made an extraordinary donation of discretionary money to Kentucky, the state represented by her husband, Mitch McConnell, a Senate minority leader.
The inspector general also looked at the frequency of meetings Chao and her top officials had with officials in Kentucky, but said there was’ no standard to assess whether the number of meetings from one’s homeland is so excessive that it can not raise ethical issues. ‘ The IG also found no “irregularities” in the department’s awards to Kentucky.
The Inspector General’s office has already launched a preliminary investigation into Chao’s possible abuse of her office before the committee has requested it. The office decided there was not enough evidence to justify a formal investigation into grant awards or Chao’s financial interest in Vulcan Materials, but proceeded with a formal investigation into ‘potential abuse of position’.