Skip to main content
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Stories

The Mercury News Logo

The Mercury News Logo

It’s Silicon Valley’s Turn’: Bay Area VC David Sacks Pulled Into Trump’s Close Orbit

John Pelissero, director, government ethics, quoted by The Mercury News.

Incoming President Donald Trump appoints Bay Area venture capitalist David Sacks as his artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency “czar” and head science and technology adviser.

But the Sacks appointment carries a conflict of interest flag. His San Francisco VC firm Craft Ventures holds investments in the technologies he'd be overseeing – AI and cryptocurrency.

John Pelissero, director, government ethics says, "Conflicts of interest could arise with regard to Sacks’ own companies and investments, potentially affecting the public interest and also competitors of firms in Sacks’ portfolio."

 

John Pelissero, director, government ethics, quoted by The Mercury News.

 

 

Ethics
media, government