ToplineThe U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded $6,050,000 in contracts to the firm where DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf’s wife is an executive, according to a report by NBC News, raising new questions about a potential conflict of interest as Wolf seeks Senate confirmation to officially lead the agency. Chad Wolf, acting DHS secretary, testifies during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland ... [+] Security hearing on February 25, 2020. Berkeley Research Group did not receive any government contracts from DHS prior to Wolf starting at the agency as chief of staff for the Transportation Security Administration in 2017, though it has previously received other government contracts. Wolf’s wife, Hope Wolf, serves as the vice president of professional staff operations at the consulting firm, and has a $1.1 million retirement fund through the company, which is the biggest financial asset listed on Chad Wolf’s financial disclosure form. Chief Critic“After Mr. Wolf joined DHS, it began pumping millions of dollars into his wife's firm, which also happens to be his largest financial asset,” Kyle Herrig, who leads the left-leaning watchdog group Accountable.US, told NBC.

Source: Forbes September 23, 2020 13:30 UTC