Inspector General Report Reveals Elaine Chao Violated Federal Ethics Laws

By Michelle Edwards March 4, 2021

A report released Wednesday by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General revealed that former Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Senator Mitch McConnell’s wife, repeatedly used her office staff for personal tasks and to promote the reputation of her family’s shipping business, the Foremost Group, which is responsible for “orders at one of China’s biggest state-funded shipyards, and had secured long-term charters with a Chinese state-owned steel maker.”

Ethical questions over how Chao and her family conduct business are nothing new. In 2018, The Paradise Papers revealed that, over a five-year period, millions of dollars were silently funneled to a Chao family foundation through two offshore firms with a New York address not incorporated anywhere in the United States. However, two entities with the same names are incorporated in the Marshall Islands, known as one of the world’s most secretive offshore havens for firms attempting to avoid taxes, and are preferred by the New York-based Foremost Group. At the time, the Foremost Group and a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation declined to comment on where the two donating firms are incorporated.

In 2019, recent shipping data showed that more than 70 percent of Foremost’s freight (mostly iron ore) goes to China. The cargo helps support China’s industrial movement, which produces steel products, a topic of dispute in the deepening trade war between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Foremost represents itself as a modest international business whose focus on China is no different than any other dry bulk carrier has in a market controlled by Chinese manufacturing.

In December, the department’s watchdog asked the Justice Department to criminally investigate Elaine Chao over concerns that she misused her office while transportation secretary under President Donald Trump. Two Justice Department divisions declined to pursue any charges. However, the IG determined that Chao, who resigned from her cabinet position on Jan. 7, used her staff and office for personal tasks and to promote the Foremost Group in a blatant violation of federal ethics rules.

The IG’s report discloses that Chao engaged in four kinds of ethics violations. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, said in a statement late Wednesday that the IG’s report and relevant documents “demonstrate that Secretary Chao used her official position and taxpayer resources for the benefit of herself and her family.” Maloney added, “Secretary Chao’s flagrant abuse of her office provides further evidence that additional ethics and transparency reforms are needed.”

Moar:

https://uncoverdc.com/2021/03/04/inspector-general-report-reveals-elaine-chao-violated-federal-ethics-laws/

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson forces Senate to read all 628 pages of Biden's COVID bill aloud

Nicholas Wu Thu, March 4, 2021, 6:41 PM

WASHINGTON – Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., forced the Senate to begin reading all 628 pages of President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID bill aloud on the Senate floor Thursday, further delaying a vote on the legislation Democrats hope to make law by next week.

Johnson said his tactic was about “educating” the American public on what was in the $1.9 trillion package, which he has derided as full of provisions unrelated to COVID relief. The entire process could take at least 10 hours.

He told reporters Thursday he felt badly for the Senate clerks who are going to “have to read it,” but it was “important” to delay the process and read the bill aloud because “so often we rush these massive bills” which few lawmakers have time to read.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Johnson's move would "accomplish little more than a few sore throats for the Senate clerks who work very hard day in, day out to help the Senate function."

And Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters, "I'm not sitting here for reading the bill." His Republican colleague had "every right" to request the reading, but "I don't think it particularly moves the ball forward," Graham said, citing the later amendment process as a more productive use of time to showcase Republican disagreements with the legislation.

As the clerk began reading the bill Thursday afternoon, Johnson was the only Republican senator in the chamber. He sat watching the clerk, his blue face mask resting on his desk.

Senators normally waive the reading of amendments or legislation on the Senate floor, but Johnson invoked a procedural move to compel the reading of the entire bill.

Other Republican senators signaled their support for Johnson’s move. Asked about Johnson’s plans, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, told reporters “I do” support them. And Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said he was “absolutely supportive” of the move because few senators had read the whole text.

Democrats groused about the reading of the bill.

After the clerk started reading the bill, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., got up from his seat and said to a colleague, "good thing we have time during a national emergency to do this.”

The Senate voted earlier Thursday to begin debate on the bill. Vice President Kamala Harris had to break a 50-50 tie on the motion to begin debate.

Once the reading of the legislation is complete, the Senate will start 20 hours of debate on the bill, aiming to pass it by the end of the week.

Democrats want to move the bill through Congress by mid-March, when a federal boost to unemployment benefits expires. The House will have to pass it again next week because of the changes made by the Senate.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/republican-sen-ron-johnson-forces-212419011.html

the knot

this pulls together lots of what has been posted here, plus FBI interview posted by Lin Wood on telegram. Can't embed, etc. Also gives lowdown on Pence (he was the leaker, mole), who played with Rosenstein, Ryan group, AND THE BIGGIE–Justice Roberts way beyond the fact he is homosexual, and his adopted (trafficked kids) via Epstein, but Roberts role in Supreme Court; relevant to Scalia murder.

https://www.americanmediaperiscope.net/making-sense-of-the-madness

Goodnight, anons. I love all of you. God Bless you and your family.