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  • allegations have surfaced this week that former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao may have abused her position during her time in office to help out her family business, but that the Department of Justice declined to investigate the matter further.

  • A report by the inspector general's office that was made public on Wednesday alleges Chow mixed government business with her family's shipping business, notably a planned official trip to China in November 2017 that included family members and extensive plans to make stops at schools that received support from the child family business.

  • The trip was later cancelled.

  • Allegations of child misconduct also included the use of government staff as personal shoppers and to run personal errands on behalf of her father, as well as quote other potential misuses of position that warranted additional review.

  • The inspector general's office referred its findings in December to the U.

  • S attorney's office for the District of Columbia for criminal prosecution, which declined to open a criminal investigation, as did the Justice Department's Public Integrity section.

  • Democratic leaders in the House on Wednesday saw it differently, saying the report showed Chow used her official position to benefit herself and her family and expressed disappointment the DOJ did not pursue the matter.

  • Chow was married to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and served as Trump's transportation secretary, but resigned in the final days of the administration after the January 6th attack at the capital.

  • A spokesman for Chow said the report was an exoneration doc.

allegations have surfaced this week that former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao may have abused her position during her time in office to help out her family business, but that the Department of Justice declined to investigate the matter further.

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