LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 4: U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) celebrates with his wife Elaine Chao at his election night event November 4, 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky. McConnell defeated Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump chose Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s brother-in-law as the next head of the Department of Labor’s pension agency this week, and the choice is already raising concerns.
Trump’s selection of Gordon Hartogensis to lead the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. has worried many people because Hartogensis does not appear to have any government experience. According to some political pundits, however, he was likely not chosen for the position because of any qualifications, but rather probably because of his connection to a top-ranking lawmaker.
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The agency handles the current and future pensions of around 1.5 million people.
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Hartogensis was described in the White House’s announcement as “an investor and technology sector leader with experience managing financial equities, bonds, private placements, and software development.” But reporters have expressed suspicion because this is more of a work description than a job title.
Hartogensis is married to Grace Chao, the sister of McConnell’s wife and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao.
Hartogensis’s LinkedIn page reportedly lists him as having managed his family’s trust for seven years. Before that, he was also the CEO and co-founder of software company Auric Technology, according to his profile.
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