President Donald Trump's pick to oversee Pentagon spending was confronted over the $3.2 billion in defense contracts tied to his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump since he took office.
Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules W. Hurst III faced the confrontation Tuesday at his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing — the official process to make his role permanent.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) pointed out how the Trump family had benefited during Donald Trump's second term.
"We know that the president's sons have gotten $3,200,000,000 in contracts from the federal government since he became president," Slotkin told Hurst at the hearing. "Do you understand that even the appearance of a conflict of interest makes you subject to an IG report — an inspector general investigation — and that you will be in charge of approving these major contracts as they go out the door?"
"I have great faith in the department's ability to control for any kind of bias or injustice in awarding contracts," Hurst dodged.
"I just want to make sure we are understanding that you will be responsible for putting your stamp of approval on the movement of that money for contracts that could be linked directly to the president's sons," Slotkin pressed.
"The comptroller does not award contracts for the entire —" Hurst said before being interrupted.
"You move the money!" Slotkin shot back.
"We give program offices money or services money," Hurst demurred.
"I was at the Pentagon," Slotkin said, hinting at her service as acting assistant secretary of defense. "If you don't want that money moving, it doesn't move."
"...your name will be on that, for these contracts, these historic contracts that are being let to the president's sons," the senator concluded as her time expired.
The Trump brothers have built their defense windfall through two investment funds, the Post found. Donald Trump Jr. is a partner at 1789 Capital, a self-described "patriotic capitalism" venture firm that has backed over a dozen defense tech companies since his father's reelection.
A Washington Post analysis published Sunday found companies tied to both brothers have raked in $3.2 billion in federal contracts, with $3.1 billion more in potential future contracts.
