Department of Transportation sued for documents related to Elaine Chao

“American Oversight and Restore Public Trust are left-wing, progressive groups dedicated to attacking the Administration,” a DOT spokesperson said to the Washington Examiner. “They named Sec. Chao as a target immediately on formation. This is a poorly disguised attempt to distract DOT and the Secretary from continuing to improve safety and infrastructure across the country. The Department won’t be distracted from its important work on behalf of the American people.”

The requests were in response to a New York Times report that disclosed ties between Chao’s family company and her official actions as secretary of transportation.

Chao’s family owns the Foremost Group, an American shipping company headquartered in China. While she holds no formal stake in the company, her high status as a U.S. official and her marriage to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest.

Chao has been accused of attempting to arrange government-funded transportation for relatives, using her status to promote the company, and allowing family members into high-profile meetings that could affect their business interests.

The lawsuit seeks “all correspondence involving certain DOT custodians containing one of a list of search terms relating to the Foremost Group” and “records demonstrating the total costs reimbursed or paid by DOT for travel expenses associated with Secretary Elaine Chao.”

“Americans deserve to know the extent to which Secretary Elaine Chao worked behind the scenes to prop up her family’s company, potentially enriching herself through them at the American taxpayers’ expense,” Kyle Herrig, senior adviser for the organization, said in a statement.

The lawsuit gives the Department of Transportation 20 days from the court order to produce the requested information.