A sitting U.S. Senator voted to send $14 million in federal grants to an NGO tied directly to his own household.
Records show Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s wife was paid $2.7 million by the same group.
An ethics complaint has now been filed — and his office says it’s “just politics.”
Throughout her career, Whitehouse has advised nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations, a state agency, a legislative body and private companies.
Whitehouse no longer has the protection of a Biden White House on his side. Some government watchdogs believe the Senator should not be involved in any legislative work. This work could potentially benefit his wife’s clients.
UA letter sent by the Senate Ethics Committee in 2018 warned then-U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, that: “Senators must closely guard against even the appearance that their families or friends are entitled to use [the senator’s] resources and power for their own personal gain.”
In mid-2024, a jury found Menendez guilty on 16 counts including bribery, extortion, corruption, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt – what prosecutors described as “the most serious” conduct that a senator has been convicted for “in the history of the republic.”
Sandra Whitehouse is the president of Ocean Wonks LLC — a consulting firm that works with the environmental nonprofit Ocean Conservancy.
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) filed a complaint during Joe Biden’s last weeks in office with the Senate Ethics Committee, alleging that Sen. Whitehouse backed legislation that resulted in Ocean Conservancy receiving millions of dollars in grants.
‘Senator Whitehouse advocated and voted for legislation that led to $6.9 million of taxpayer funds being paid to an organization that his wife works for and receives an income from,’ said FACT executive director Kendra Arnold.
According to the complaint, Sandra Whitehouse has worked for Ocean Conservancy since 2008.
Data from USASpending.gov revealed that Ocean Conservancy has received over $14.2 million in federal grants between 2008 and 2025, with nearly $7 million being through two grants received in 2024 alone. The two grants in question were a $5.2 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and another $1.7 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The NOAA grant was funded through the Biden Administration‘s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The EPA grant was funded through the agency’s annual appropriations bill. Sen. Whitehouse voted in favor of both bills.
Tax documents show Sandra Whitehouse has received $2,686,800 from Ocean Conservancy between 2010 and 2025 either directly or through Ocean Wonks LLC.
To receive free email notification, when we post new articles like this, sign up below. Clever Journeys does & will not sell or share your information with anyone.
.
IN GOD WE TRUST
Thanks for supporting independent true journalism with a small tip. Dodie & Jack
CLICK HERE for GREEN PASTURE BENEFITS
Use Code CLEVER10 for a 10% discount on Green Pasture products today!
☆☆☆☆☆
☆☆☆☆☆
Clever Journeys 
Jack, as long as you have been reporting on these Washington sleezebags, don’t you get the impression they are all on the take in some way? Now, it’s all over Twitter that Trump is having Pelosi and her magical stock wand investigated. Let’s hope it’s true and not some made-up mess. These people are so damn entitled and smug.
LikeLiked by 2 people
100%
Some worse than others. Their assignments to committees (and Party $$ contributions) depend on it. Over the years I have awesome insiders that I go to great lengths to protect their identities.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Where/ when does the discussion end?
term limits
campaign finance reform
cap on how much can be raised and spent on a campaign
serious consequences
does congress need outside oversite? Oversized with teeth!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Great questions. Apparently without Trump, no answers. Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Senator “could face scrutiny.” That’s the trouble. Politicians have been doing this stuff for so long they just think it’s normal. But it’s wakey-wakey time.
LikeLiked by 2 people