Biden’s Secretary of Labor Nominee Marty Walsh Paid $1.2M in Campaign Funds to Firm Employing his Girlfriend

Joe Biden’s pick for Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh has drawn accusations of nepotism for funneling $1.2M of campaign cash to a small consulting firm that employs his longtime girlfriend Lorrie Higgins.

Washington Free Beacon: “Boston mayor Marty Walsh (D.), President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for labor secretary, funneled nearly $1.2 million into a consulting firm that employs his longtime girlfriend.

“Walsh’s mayoral campaign pushed the payments to LB Strategies, where his live-in girlfriend, Lorrie Higgins, works as a fundraising consultant. The firm received the cash through a contract that allows it to compensate its employees with the money.”

The arrangement was originally reported by the Boston Globe in March 2019, and since the publication of that story, the firm has brought in an additional $280,000 from Walsh’s mayoral campaign, according to the Washington Free Beacon.

Washington Free Beacon: “From 2013 to March 2019, Walsh’s campaign sent a total of $888,750 to the firm, the Boston Globe reported. A review of state campaign finance records shows that since the time of the Globe’s 2019 report and December 2020, LB Strategies received an additional $280,100 for fundraising consulting work, bringing its total windfall to more than $1.16 million.”

The payments started just before Higgins was hired at the firm. The start of those payments has been connected to the ability for LB Strategies to hire additional staff, notably Higgins.

Washington Free Beacon: “In fact, Higgins was brought on board shortly after Walsh’s campaign began dishing out cash for the firm’s services. Higgins joined the group in March 2014, just two months after Walsh’s campaign agreed to $5,000 monthly payments. The agreement allowed the firm to pay newly hired staff. Newer records show that the payments have since ballooned to $14,650 per month.”

As Mayor, Walsh had executive influence over spending decisions at Boston City Hall. If confirmed as Secretary of Labor, Walsh would have tremendous discretion over decisions made at the massive department, potentially putting his previous connections under increased scrutiny.