Cecily Zamora
In May 2019, Mitch McConnell's brother-in-law, Gordon Hartogensis, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), a part of the Labor Department. Hartogensis is married to the sister of McConnell's wife, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. Hartogensis was nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the federal agency tasked with ensuring workers receive their benefits from private pension funds. The nomination sparked controversy due to Hartogensis's family connections and limited professional experience, primarily in the private sector.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of McConnell's brother-in-law | Gordon Hartogensis |
| Relationship to McConnell | Married to the sister of McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao |
| Position nominated for | Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) |
| Date of nomination | May 2018 |
| Nominator | President Donald Trump |
| Confirmation status | Confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2019 |
| McConnell's vote | Voted to confirm |
| Political donations | Donated $11,600 to McConnell since 2001 and $50,000 to the Kentucky GOP since 2007 |
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What You'll Learn
Gordon Hartogensis was Trump's nominee
In 2018, Gordon Hartogensis, brother-in-law of then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his wife, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, was nominated by President Donald Trump to be the Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) at the Department of Labor. The PBGC is a government agency that collects insurance premiums from sponsors of defined-benefit plans and pays out benefits when companies cannot meet their pension obligations.
Hartogensis was married to Chao's sister, Grace, and was well-known to some of Washington's most influential political figures. Despite this, his nomination was seen by many as an example of cronyism, as he lacked any prior government experience. According to a White House statement, Hartogensis was an "investor and technology sector leader with experience managing financial equities, bonds, private placements, and software development." However, critics pointed out that he did not appear to have any experience working for an agency the size of the PBGC, which oversees and protects the retirement incomes of nearly 40 million Americans.
Prior to his nomination, Hartogensis had been managing his family's trust and had previously worked as the CEO of Auric Technology LLC, a company in New York. He had also worked as a Forex trader and a technology executive. Despite the concerns about his qualifications and the potential influence of cronyism, Hartogensis' nomination was approved by the Senate Finance Committee in March 2019 and he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as director of the PBGC in May 2019.
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He is married to Grace Chao, Elaine Chao's sister
In 2018, Gordon Hartogensis was nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), an agency within the Department of Labor. Hartogensis is married to Grace Chao, the younger sister of Elaine Chao, who is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Hartogensis was described by the White House as an "investor and technology sector leader with experience managing financial equities, bonds, private placements, and software development." However, he had little professional experience beyond managing his family's investment portfolio. This, along with his family connections, raised questions about his nomination. The White House declined to address queries about Hartogensis's relationship with Trump's Cabinet and McConnell.
Hartogensis was expected to gain Senate confirmation by the end of 2018. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2019, with McConnell voting to confirm.
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Hartogensis was confirmed by the Senate
In 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Gordon Hartogensis, brother-in-law of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, to lead the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). The PBGC is a federal agency tasked with ensuring workers receive their benefits from private pension funds. Created in 1974, the PBGC pays out pension benefits to workers if their private pension funds fail.
Hartogensis is married to Grace Chao, the younger sister of McConnell's wife, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. Despite Hartogensis's thin resume, he was expected to gain Senate confirmation by the end of 2018.
Hartogensis was indeed confirmed by the Senate in May 2019. Only two Democratic senators opposed him in the Finance Committee, and McConnell himself voted to confirm his brother-in-law.
Hartogensis had previously worked as the CEO of Auric Technology LLC, a company in New York. Since 2011, he has managed his family trust. Trump's statement described him as "an investor and technology sector leader with experience managing financial equities, bonds, private placements, and software development."
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He was expected to gain Senate confirmation by the end of 2018
In May 2018, Gordon Hartogensis, brother-in-law of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, was nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). The PBGC is a federal agency tasked with ensuring that workers receive their benefits from private pension funds. Created by Congress in 1974, the PBGC pays out pension benefits to workers if their private pension funds fail.
Hartogensis, a political outsider, was described by the White House as an "investor and technology sector leader with experience managing financial equities, bonds, private placements, and software development." He had previously worked as the CEO of Auric Technology LLC, a company in New York, and since 2011, he had managed his family's trust. However, Hartogensis had little professional experience beyond managing his family's investment portfolio and had no apparent government experience.
Despite this, Hartogensis was expected to gain Senate confirmation by the end of 2018. Only two Democratic senators opposed him in the Finance Committee, and his confirmation hearing was scheduled on the same day as the controversial hearings to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, reducing the attention on Hartogensis's nomination. During the hearing, Hartogensis demonstrated technical knowledge of the PBGC, impressing Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
In May 2019, McConnell's brother-in-law, Hartogensis, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. McConnell voted to confirm his brother-in-law.
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Hartogensis donated to McConnell's campaigns
Mitch McConnell's brother-in-law, Gordon Hartogensis, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), a part of the Labor Department, in May 2019. McConnell himself voted to confirm his brother-in-law's nomination. Hartogensis, who is married to the sister of McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, had little professional experience beyond managing his family's investment portfolio. However, supporters noted his experience in founding and selling two tech companies.
The nomination sparked controversy due to his family connections and limited professional background. Some questioned whether his relationship with McConnell and Chao influenced his nomination. Despite the criticism, Hartogensis secured the position and now oversees an agency responsible for managing billions in assets and protecting the pensions of millions of people.
While it is unclear if Gordon Hartogensis has personally donated to McConnell's campaigns, records show that Alexia Hartogensis donated $5,600 to Mitch McConnell's campaign committee in the first half of 2020, according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Individual groups, excluding PACs, must disclose donations exceeding $250 per year. This indicates that the Hartogensis family may have some level of financial involvement in supporting McConnell's political endeavours.
The donation by Alexia Hartogensis, and potentially other members of the Hartogensis family, raises questions about the potential influence of political contributions on appointments and nominations. It is not uncommon for individuals with close ties to politicians to donate to their campaigns, and in some cases, these donors may benefit from favourable appointments or policies. While there is no direct evidence of a quid pro quo arrangement in this case, the intersection of politics and donations warrants scrutiny to ensure transparency and prevent potential conflicts of interest.
In conclusion, while Gordon Hartogensis's nomination and confirmation as director of the PBGC sparked controversy due to his family connections, the extent of his relationship with McConnell, and whether financial contributions played a role, remains unclear. The donation by Alexia Hartogensis to McConnell's campaign committee adds an intriguing layer to the story, highlighting the complex dynamics between personal relationships, political donations, and government appointments.
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Frequently asked questions
Mitch McConnell is a US politician and Senate Majority Leader.
Gordon Hartogensis is the brother-in-law of Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao. He is married to Grace Chao, Elaine Chao's sister.
Gordon Hartogensis was confirmed by the US Senate as the director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), a part of the Labor Department.
Gordon Hartogensis was confirmed in May 2019.
Yes, Mitch McConnell voted to confirm his brother-in-law, Gordon Hartogensis, as director of the PBGC.
