JAMES LYNCH, National Review; Watchdog Flags Sheldon Whitehouse for Potential Ethics Violation in Backing Bill That Enriched Wife’s Employer
"A watchdog organization is calling for an ethics investigation into Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.) for supporting legislation that resulted in nearly $7 million being paid to a firm his wife works for.
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust filed an ethics complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee Monday requesting an investigation into Whitehouse’s votes on legislation that led to $6.9 million in grants to Ocean Conservancy, an environmentalist group his wife Sandra works for.
“Senator Whitehouse advocated and voted for legislation that led to $6.9 million of taxpayer funds being paid to an organization that his wife works for and receives an income from,” said FACT executive director Kendra Arnold.
“It is this type of circular relationship between a Senator and an organization that lobbies and pays his wife a salary that the public is rightfully fed up with. Congressional rules are in place to ensure our taxpayer dollars are going to serve our nation and that our Senators are not behaving in a manner that would call this into question.”...
Senate ethics rules prohibit a lawmaker from using official actions of obtain financial benefits for themselves or their spouse. They also advise Senators to avoid the appearance of impropriety or conduct that reflects unfavorably on the institution.
Ocean Conservancy has paid Sandra Whitehouse $2.6 million directly or through her consulting firm since 2010, tax records show. The firm has denied that Sandra Whitehouse received compensation from the federal funding her husband voted for."
