Fox News reports that former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has criticized the Office of Science and Technology (OSTP), including sending one of Biden’s top science advisers to a luxury resort on a private jet. He reportedly had an “abnormal level of influence.”
In addition to his connections with more than a dozen employees within OSTP, Mr. Schmidt also had a close relationship with former Biden administration chief science adviser Eric Lander. report When Lander was still an adviser to President Biden, Schmidt reportedly flew Lander and his family to a luxury resort in Montana, and was ethical about its sphere of influence. Doubts have risen further, Fox News reports. report.
An internal White House email revealed that Lander and her family were flown by private jet to the Yellowstone Weekend Summit, a private event hosted by Schmidt, in July 2021. The trip was run by Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic company founded by the former Google CEO in 2017. Lander’s spokesperson told Fox News that the White House had approved the trip and Schmidt Futures reimbursed him for the trip, but Public Trust (PPT) Director Michael Chamberlain said the trip was a no-brainer. determined to be inappropriate, Fox News reported.
Billionaire ex-Google CEO and longtime Democratic donor Eric Schmidt took President Biden’s former chief science adviser Eric Lander to a luxurious Montana retreat during his tenure at the White House. .” https://t.co/B5fwt9gOE7
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) June 23, 2023
“The inappropriate use of private and charter flights for travel amounts to the downfall of several senior executives,” Chamberlain told the media. “Given the personnel and resources pouring into the OSTP from a handful of wealthy and powerful individuals and organizations, the American public needs to pause and consider whether the factors driving its generosity are not entirely altruistic. be.”
Chamberlain said the Biden administration has “promised to put science ahead of politics and has talked a lot about adhering to its scientific integrity policy”, so the incident will only increase public skepticism about the administration’s motives. claimed to be. At the time of his visit, Mr. Lander was reportedly drafting the Biden administration’s policies for the OSTP.
In 2022, Schmidt Futures reported that it indirectly paid the salaries of two OTSP officials, including former OSTP Chief of Staff Mark Idinov, after Lander resigned in February 2022 over bullying allegations. was taken. In addition, Schmidt founded and served on the board of directors of Civic Analytics, a data science company that helps the Democratic campaign, including Biden’s 2020 campaign, target voters. (Related article: Former Google CEO Secretly Funds Dozens of White House Jobs)
Given that Mr. Schmidt’s financial interests overlapped with OSTP’s oversight responsibilities, these revelations raised “serious” ethical concerns within the OSTP general counsel’s office, according to an internal email obtained by Politico. It is said that
“I and other members of the legal team were aware of the large number of staff with financial ties to Schmidt Futures and were increasingly concerned about the influence the organization could exert through these individuals.” OSTP General Counsel Rachel Wallace told Politico. .
The whistleblower, Wallace, who raised allegations of bullying against Lander, also ethically challenged Schmidt’s influence over the OSTP and feels Lander has treated her badly, Politico said. told to
The White House later announced that Lander was not authorized to attend the Yellowstone Weekend Summit in an “official capacity,” telling Fox News that Lander “did not represent the federal government.” “I was advised of my ethical obligations,” he said.
