Free Republic

The Transportation Department’s watchdog asked the Justice Department to criminally investigate Elaine Chao late last year after it determined she had misused her office when she was transportation secretary under President Donald Trump but was rebuffed, according to a report released Wednesday. The report said the Justice Department’s criminal and public integrity divisions declined in December to take up the case for criminal prosecution following the inspector general’s findings that Chao inappropriately used her staff and office for personal tasks and to promote a shipping business owned by Chao’s father and sisters. That company does extensive business with China. “A...

Full title: Transportation Dept. Hands Out $500 Million More Stimulus Funds – Including $100 Million for Trains in Obama’s Hometown (CNSNews.com) – In a fourth round of funding grants paid for by the $831 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Chicago is receiving $100 million of $500 million for CREATE, a regional rail task force. The task force web site describes the program as a “partnership” between the Transportation Department, the state of Illinois, city of Chicago and the Metropolitan Rail Corporation (Metra), Amtrak, and freight railroads using the rail lines. The task force goals include improving infrastructure, passenger service,...