This is mostly an op ed trying to masquerade as news. The article has virtually no credible sources, there are a few quotes sprinkled in for flavor, and the rest is just rampant speculation based on a biased attempt to force feed a narrative to the reader. This article takes a few facts: (A) Chao is married to McConnell, (B) Chao's family in China is well to do and invested in shipping; then, the author attempts to construe those things into an elaborate narrative of corruption in the state department based purely on opinions and speculation. News is not gossip, and spreading hearsay is no better than getting gossip from your hair stylist.

Perhaps I'm naive, but much of this article feels like it's making a mountain out of a mole hill. I'm sure that Ms. Chao is at times making decisions that will benefit herself, her family, and her family's companies, but this is the type of corruption that is prevalent in both political parties. This type of self-interested corruption can likely be found under every political rock in Washington today. I'm glad it's being covered, but this story could have been much, more shorter.