ACCESSING CLASSIFIED FILES
Decrypting documents...
Your connection is being monitored
Back to Individuals
high risk$700 million+
Wilbur Louis Ross Jr.
Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Commerce Secretary 2017-2021, Billionaire"King of Bankruptcy"
Overview
Wilbur Louis Ross Jr. served as Secretary of Commerce from 2017 to 2021. He maintained undisclosed business ties to Russian oligarchs and partners of Vladimir Putin through Navigator Holdings. Forbes accused him of lying about his net worth for years. The Paradise Papers revealed his connections to Putin's son-in-law through a shipping firm.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Business ties to Russian oligarchs through Bank of Cyprus
Navigator Holdings connection to Putin's family
Pushed citizenship question to suppress census response
Failed to divest from businesses as promised
Forbes removed him from billionaire list for inflating wealth
Frequently fell asleep in meetings
Sago Mine disaster; 12 miners died at his company's mine
Related Investigations (3)
Criminal Charges & Violations
7 documented violations
18 U.S.C. § 208Potential Financial Conflict of Interest; Failed to fully divest from Navigator Holdings with Russian oligarch ties while serving as Commerce Secretary(Potential Ethics)
5 C.F.R. § 2635Multiple Ethics Violations; Maintained business ties that conflicted with official duties(Ethics)
18 U.S.C. § 1001Potential False Statements; Failed to fully disclose Russian business connections on ethics forms(Potential Federal)
13 U.S.C. § 221Census Act Violation; Improperly added citizenship question to suppress responses in minority communities (blocked by Supreme Court)(Federal Census)
42 U.S.C. § 1983Deprivation of Rights; Citizenship question designed to undercount minorities for redistricting(Civil Rights)
30 U.S.C. § 820 (Mine Safety)Historical Violations; Sago Mine disaster killed 12 workers at his company's mine due to safety failures(Worker Safety)
22 U.S.C. § 618 (FARA)Potential Violation; Unreported foreign business relationships during confirmation and tenure(Potential National Security)
Known Associates & Connections
Donald Trump
Cabinet member, business associate
Vladimir Putin
Business ties through Russian oligarchs
Sources & Documentation
1 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- November 28, 1937
- Birthplace
- Weehawken, New Jersey
- Also Known As
- King of Bankruptcy
Education
- •Harvard Business School (M.B.A.)
- •Yale University (B.A.)
Key Timeline
2017
February: Confirmed as Commerce Secretary
2017
Paradise Papers reveal Russian business ties
2019
Pushes census citizenship question
2019
Supreme Court blocks citizenship question
2021
January: Leaves office