Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) pressed GOP megadonor Betsy DeVos during her confirmation hearing Tuesday evening to commit to avoiding conflicts of interest and not engaging in political contributions if she is confirmed as secretary of education.
“President-elect Trump thinks he can resolve his financial conflicts by having his family manage his interests while he’s in office,” Murray asked DeVos. “Do you think it’s okay for family members to profit off of companies that are directly impacted by the decisions you will make if confirmed?”
“No, I do not,” DeVos replied.
“You and your family have invested in what you call the education industry,” Murray pressed. “You told this committee that you would sever ties with your family businesses if confirmed but you also said you intend to return to these businesses owned by your family when you leave public service. So how is that different from President-elect Trump’s arrangement?”
“Senator, first of all, let me be very clear about any conflicts. Where conflicts are identified, they will be resolved,” DeVos said. “I will not be conflicted, period.”
DeVos said that any investments that are identified as conflicts will be “appropriately divested.”
“I assume that you and your family intend to forego all investments in education companies from now on?” Murray asked.
“Anything that is deemed to be a conflict will not be a part of our investing,” DeVos said.
“How do you intend to convince this committee that no entity will feel pressure to purchase, partner or contract with corporate or non-profit entities you and your family invested in should you be confirmed as secretary?” Murray asked.
“I can commit to you that nobody will feel any pressure like that,” DeVos replied.
“Since we do not have your ethics paperwork tonight, we’ve not had a chance to look at it, we’ve not had a chance to know whether we have additional questions,” Murray asked. “Would you commit to coming back before this committee once we have that from the OGE so we can ask additional questions?”
“I commit to making sure we have an ethics agreement resolved and reached,” DeVos said.
Murray then turned to DeVos’ record as a GOP megadonor.
“If you are confirmed, I want to know if you believe it’s appropriate for you and your family to continue to use its wealth to pressure state, local and federal candidates to support your agenda,” she asked.
“If I am confirmed, as you know, I will not be involved and engaged in political contributions and my husband will not be, either,” DeVos replied.
