Washington Has Been Lucrative for Some on Biden's Team

By Kenneth P. Vogel and Eric Lipton, The New York Times

03 January 21

Janet Yellen, the president-elect’s pick for Treasury secretary, collected more than $7 million in speaking fees over the past two years. Antony J. Blinken and Avril Haines did well, too.

resident-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s choice for Treasury secretary, Janet L. Yellen, collected more than $7 million in speaking fees over the past two years from major corporations and Wall Street banks that have a keen interest in the financial policies she will oversee after her expected confirmation to lead the Treasury Department.

Ms. Yellen’s paid speaking appearances — which included $992,000 from the investment bank Citi for nine appearances — were among the lucrative payments from a range of Wall Street, Big Tech and corporate interests to three prominent prospective members of the incoming Biden administration.

The payments, revealed in disclosure statements covering the previous two years and released on New Year’s Eve, have caused consternation among progressive activists concerned about the influence of special interests around Mr. Biden, who they see as part of a Democratic establishment that has not sufficiently embraced liberal priorities.

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