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Biden Cabinet member’s report of nearly zero assets spurs call for ethics audit

A Republican lawmaker has joined a watchdog group in asking for ethics officials to look into how a Biden Cabinet member was able to report virtually no assets on a post-nomination financial-disclosure form despite years of drawing a six-figure congressional salary.

Rep. Bruce Westerman, Arkansas Republican, called Thursday for the Office of Inspector General to conduct an audit into the “efficacy and effectiveness” of the Interior Department’s Departmental Ethics Office, citing unanswered questions about Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s financial disclosures.

Mr. Westerman, the ranking member on the House Natural Resources Committee, wrote a letter to Interior Inspector General Mark Greenblatt after the watchdog group Protect the Public’s Trust filed a July 20 complaint with the department over the Form 278e filed in December 2020 by Ms.