The lawmakers requested the probe into Chao, who is married to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
ADVERTISEMENT
The OIG referred its findings to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, which declined to open a criminal investigation. The Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section also declined to open an investigation.
DeFazio said in a statement that he was “disappointed” that the OIG didn’t finish the investigation while Chao was in office, and that DOJ declined to take up the investigation.
“Public servants, especially those responsible for leading tens of thousands of other public servants, must know that they serve the public and not their family’s private commercial interests,” he said.