https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-1743-perjury-overview-18-usc-1621-and-1623-violations
Because 18 USC 1621, “Perjury,” is still a thing, the topic of today’s thread is the nomination of Diana Furchtgott-Roth to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation. (1)
@commercedems
@MariaCantwell
@SecElaineChao
@DOTInspectorGen
@AFLCIO
@RAINN

Under the “general perjury” federal criminal statute, anyone who makes a false, sworn statement to a legislative body (the United States Senate, in Ms. Furchtgott-Roth’s example) can be charged and—if found guilty—fined, imprisoned, or both. (2)

https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/b5602087-a31d-4672-b53e-196d67405f85his
This is the “Biographical Information and Qualifications” statement Ms. Furchtgott-Roth submitted to the Senate in 2017. (3)

Here’s Ms. Furchtgott-Roth’s sworn affidavit, which she signed to indicate that the information in her “Biographical Information and Qualifications” statement is current, accurate, and complete “to the best of her knowledge.” (4)

However, her response to the requirement to itemize all political contributions “of $500 or more for the past ten years”—“None”—is unequivocally false. (5)

On February 6, 2014, Ms. Furchtgott-Roth made a $1000.00 contribution to Comstock for Congress, Rep. Barbara Comstock’s candidate committee. (6)

On June 29, 2010, Ms. Furchtgott-Roth made a $500.00 contribution to David Malpass for Senate. This was (now) World Bank president Malpass’s authorized committee for his 2010 Senate run. (7)

It may be hard for some to recall every $500-$1000 donation, but it took exactly two minutes and forty-eight seconds to locate these records on the Federal Election Campaign website.

Why might Ms. Furchtgott-Roth deliberately omit her contributions to Malpass and Comstock? (8)

When Ms. Furchtgott-Roth’s nomination as Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology, it was the second time it was advanced along party lines. (9) https://twitter.com/tsnyderdc/status/1263158902478209024

Her nomination had also been advanced out of committee last April. (10) https://twitter.com/scourtneydc/status/1113438203422416899

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm536
After her nomination stalled following her initial 2017 confirmation hearing, Ms. Furchtgott-Roth—an economist nominated for a DOT Research and Technology position—was installed as an acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. (11)

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm572
The Under Secretary of the Treasury at the time Ms. Furchtgott-Roth received an acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury appointment?

David Malpass. (12)

As to her donation to Barbara Comstock’s campaign? That’s difficult to sort out, but Comstock—as a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure—would’ve made a powerful ally until her 2018 re-election defeat. (13)

https://www.transportation.gov/research-and-technology/diana-furchtgott-roth
Where did Ms. Furchtgott-Roth move to after David Malpass left Treasury for the World Bank? Her old boss from George W. Bush’s Department of Labor, Elaine Chao, installed her as Transportation’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology. (14)

How does an economist—who wrote an article titled “Trump Doesn’t Need Economists,” who doesn’t believe that “forced touching of a sexual nature” constitutes sexual assault, is anti-labor, and who doesn’t have a tech background—end up as a Research and Technology appointee? (15) https://twitter.com/ex67t20/status/1091754101120135169

Why has Senator McConnell provided her with multiple shots at Senate confirmation? Why did two Cabinet-level Departments afford her positions while she awaited confirmation?

It’s simple, really: Her longtime friend and associate, Elaine Chao wants her in a policy position. (16)

https://www.iwf.org/2015/06/30/diana-furchtgott-roth/
High praise for Diana Furchtgott-Roth’s opinions on Social Security, charter schools, and the “myth of a gender wage gap” from her former and current manager and fellow former Hudson Institute fellow, Secretary Chao. (17)

Diana Furchgott-Roth’s statements on sexual assault, labor unions, the gender wage gap, and on many other issues should disqualify her from an appointment as an Assistant Secretary for any Department—if the false statement she made to the United States Senate does not.

(End)