(TheLibertyRevolution.com)- If you’re a DC lobbyist, it’s helpful to have a brother who works in the Biden White House.
According to the Washington Free Beacon, the Biden Energy Department just announced that it will be loaning $2.5 billion to General Motors to manufacture electric vehicle batteries. This multi-billion-dollar loan comes after months of lobbying efforts by Jeff Ricchetti, whose brother just happens to be senior White House advisor, Steve Ricchetti.
Ricchetti the younger was hired by General Motors less than two weeks after Joe Biden was sworn in. Since he was hired, GM has paid the younger Ricchetti nearly $350,000 to lobby the government (aka his brother in the White House) on its behalf.
In March, GM executives got a meeting with Steve Ricchetti at the White House just weeks after General Motors CEO Mary Barra had urged the president to expand federal subsidies for electric vehicles and increase federal spending on chip manufacturing.
Steve Ricchetti has a long history with Joe Biden, serving as his chief of staff when Biden was Vice President. Since Joe Biden announced his campaign for president in 2019, Steve’s brother Jeff saw a massive influx of new clients, going from only representing 3 companies in early 2019 to representing 19 companies today.
The Ricchetti brothers have been a point of contention among ethics experts since the start of this administration, so much so, that the White House ethics office forced Steve Ricchetti to recuse himself from matters involving four of his younger brother’s other clients, GlaxoSmithKline, Vaxart, Horizon Therapeutics, and TC Energy.
Richard Painter, former White House ethics lawyer under George W. Bush, recently told the Washington Free Beacon that Steve Richetti should be required to recuse himself from having any part in any matter involving clients from his brother’s firm.
Last year when President Biden flew to Michigan to promote his plan to build charging stations for electric vehicles, Ricchetti was back in Washington negotiating the bill with members of Congress, despite General Motors being a beneficiary of such legislation.
Since the start of Biden’s presidency, General Motors has enjoyed extensive access to the administration, including the March meeting with Steve Ricchetti.
In February, Joe Biden’s niece Missy Owens lucked out big-time when General Motors hired her to be its chief of “Environment, Sustainability, and Governance.”
