The agency’s inspector general, in a statement released Wednesday, said it had decided to investigate the matter and had informed Shanahan of its decision. Shanahan, who spent more than three decades at Boeing before joining the Trump administration in 2017, has denied favoring Boeing during his time as deputy defense secretary — the No. Lt. Col. Joe Buccino, a spokesman for Shanahan, said the acting secretary welcomed the inspector general’s investigation and would fully comply with the probe. “Acting Secretary Shanahan has at all times remained committed to upholding his ethics agreement filed with the [Department of Defense],” Buccino said. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) asked Shanahan during an appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee last week whether he would welcome an inspector general probe into his conduct regarding Boeing while at the Pentagon.

Source: Washington Post March 20, 2019 22:55 UTC