What a perfectly Trumpian story. Earlier this month, J.D. Granger, who is the son of Republican Rep. Kay Granger, publicly bragged to a local NBC station that his mother's appointment as ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee meant that she'd be able to funnel millions in federal dollars to a development project in Fort Worth called Panther Island … which the younger Granger just happens to run. In a "buoyant mood," Granger then added an equally startling comment about himself and his mother: "When this thing is on autopilot, we both get to retire."
The Grangers have since had to walk back both ends of this piece. Granger claimed he "misspoke" about his mother quitting the House, and a spokesperson for the congresswoman said flatly, "She is not retiring." (For what it’s worth, Texas’ 12th is an extremely Republican district in the Fort Worth suburbs, having voted for Trump by a 63-33 margin.)
As for Granger's claim that his mom would soon be shipping some of that sweet, sweet scrilla from Uncle Sam down Texas way, he was forced to say on the record that her new position "does not guarantee remaining federal funds needed to complete" the Panther Island project. By saying the quiet part loud, he’s now at least increased the scrutiny that any new appropriations are likely to receive.
Don't fret about Granger, though: He still remains in charge of the development (which is overdue, over budget, and underfunded), earning $213,000 a year while never once receiving a written evaluation in his 12 years on the job. And while the $1.1 billion project is about to undergo a new audit, it won't examine Granger's role at all. This is the kind of nepotism that would make Donald Trump so very, very proud.