Here’s what you need to know about the senator’s wife at the center of new ethics complaint
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., has recently found himself at the center of controversy due to an ethics complaint regarding his voting in favor of legislation that provided millions in grants to a nonprofit climate group that pays his wife’s consulting firm. But who is Sandra Whitehouse, the wife of the senator?
Sandra Whitehouse, like her husband, earned her bachelor’s degree at Yale University. She later pursued a master’s degree at the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, where she studied from 1986 to 1994. The couple tied the knot in 1986 at the St. George’s School Chapel in Newport, Rhode Island, and they have two children, Molly and Alexander, as well as two grandchildren.
Throughout her career, Sandra has worked with various nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations, state agencies, legislative bodies, and private companies. She has been a nonresident senior fellow at the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council, where she provided strategic advice on ocean policy issues.
Sandra Whitehouse began working for Ocean Conservancy in 2008, serving as a senior policy advisor. Her consulting work focused on raising awareness of ocean policy issues, engaging stakeholders, and providing strategic advice to the organization’s Executive Team and Program Directors. Although she is no longer directly employed by Ocean Conservancy, her firm, Ocean Wonks LLC, continues to provide consulting services to the organization.
Ocean Conservancy has received over $14.2 million in federal grants since 2008, with significant grants coming in 2024 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for marine debris cleanup. These grants were funded through legislation that Senator Whitehouse supported.
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) filed an ethics complaint against Senator Whitehouse, alleging a potential conflict of interest due to his wife’s financial ties to Ocean Conservancy. However, Whitehouse’s spokesperson dismissed the accusations as politically motivated and reiterated the senator’s commitment to ethical governance.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Whitehouse’s spokesperson emphasized that false accusations from special interest groups would not deter the senator from advocating for accountability and ethical government. The Senate Select Committee on Ethics previously dismissed similar complaints against Senator Whitehouse, affirming that his actions did not violate federal laws, Senate rules, or ethical standards.
Sandra Whitehouse’s expertise in ocean policy and her consulting work with Ocean Conservancy have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest. However, the senator’s office maintains that he remains dedicated to serving the interests of the American people and upholding ethical standards in government.
