The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 20th that the White House has released the financial status of its staff and spouses in response to an outside request, showing that several White House officials have had close relationships with technology giants, including companies involved in government cyber security and anti-trust policies. The National Security Advisor Sullivan, who was an advisor to Microsoft and held stock in Microsoft and Facebook, is one example, putting the “ethical commitment” of senior White House staffers to the test.
According to reports, Biden staffers are required to make an “ethics pledge” before joining the administration, in terms of government regulations and contracts, if the party they work with has a direct or significant connection to them, such as a former employer or client, they should recuse themselves from participating. Sullivan’s ties to businesses have received the most attention in the White House’s release of financial information on senior staffers and their spouses for the past year, including assets, stock, income, debt and non-government related positions.
Was a Microsoft adviser until last May
The White House is currently conducting a coordinated interdepartmental investigation and response to the attack on Microsoft’s email service, Exchange Server, by a Chinese government-backed hacker group, and Sullivan is the official responsible for overseeing it. However, Sullivan served as a consultant to Microsoft from 2017 until May of last year, giving advice on company policy and earning $45,000 last year. Sullivan was paid $45,000 last year. In addition, Sullivan also holds Microsoft stock through a trust, worth about $50,000.
Involvement with several technology giants
In addition, Sullivan holds about $100,000 in shares of Google parent Alphabet and $1.5 million to $50,000 in shares of Facebook. Sullivan has between $50,000 and $50,000 in Facebook stock, which is under investigation in a federal antitrust lawsuit. He has also served as an adviser to international consulting firm Macro Advisory Partners, with clients including Uber, Mastercard, Lego, Aviva Plc, Standard Life, Standard Chartered and a branch of Bank of America.
White House officials pointed out that Sullivan is getting out of his holdings, and recused himself from policy decisions related to the above-mentioned old clients, and had no contact with the companies he worked for. In response to the Microsoft hack, although Sullivan is responsible for dealing with the impact of the incident, but leading the National Security Council to respond to the incident is the Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger (Anne Neuberger).
Another White House official whose finances are under scrutiny is Interior Committee Chairman Susan Rice, whose total assets amount to $37.9 million, including holdings in Jolson stock worth $1 million to $5 million and Pfizer stock worth $1.5 million to $50,000. The total assets of Susan Rice, who is the chairman of the Interior Committee, amount to $3.79 million.
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