Agriculture Secretary nominee Sonny Perdue plans on divesting his business interests as part of becoming the next leader at the Department of Agriculture. The Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper reports Perdue plans to step down from his business holding company and restructure his family trusts, should the Senate confirm his appointment. The White House has forwarded all financial and ethics documents to the Senate Agriculture Committee, which will hold the confirmation hearing. Federal documents show that as part of a deal struck with the Office of Government Ethics, Perdue would resign from positions as manager of Perdue Management Holdings, LLC, and as a board member of Perdue Business Holdings. Perdue would also leave positions at the National Grain and Feed Association, the Georgia Agribusiness Council and the Bipartisan Policy Center, while also putting his assets into a blind trust. The Senate Agriculture Committee has yet to schedule a hearing for Perdue, but a date could be set for next week.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.
