Investigation Launched into Jean Kennedy Smith’s Funding Request

Former US ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy Smith, is under investigation for allegedly violating regulations by soliciting funding from the Irish government for a Washington DC arts festival. The inquiry has emerged following the release of confidential documents as part of the State Papers, indicating that US authorities contacted Irish officials regarding the matter.

The investigation focuses on a request made by Ms Kennedy Smith for $1 million (€850,000) to support an Irish arts festival at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC. This festival, which took place on May 14, 2000, featured prominent performances, including the hit show Riverdance. As the sister of President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy, Ms Kennedy Smith served as ambassador from June 1993 to September 1998 and played a significant role in the Northern Ireland peace process.

In her correspondence with then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Ms Kennedy Smith described the festival as an opportunity to showcase Ireland’s cultural heritage to an American audience. She emphasized that the financial commitment required for such an event was substantial and that a commitment from the Irish government would be crucial for her fundraising efforts.

The letter, sent on official state department letterhead, stated, “It would help me enormously if I can demonstrate from the beginning that the government of Ireland is very supportive of the endeavour.” According to the documents, she believed that a donation from the Irish government would enable her to secure additional funding from other sources.

However, the case took a serious turn when the US Department of Justice classified her actions as a potential violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 208. This law prohibits federal executive branch employees, including ambassadors, from participating substantially in matters where they have a financial interest due to their affiliations. The DOJ asserted that Ms Kennedy Smith was aware of the regulations and had previously stated that she would not personally solicit funds related to the Kennedy Centre.

The investigation concluded with Ms Kennedy Smith agreeing to a civil settlement, wherein she paid $5,000 to resolve claims of conflict of interest violations. In her statement regarding the settlement, she maintained that she had received prior approval to make her funding request and asserted, “I derived no financial benefit either from my request to the Irish government or from the Irish Festival itself.”

The outcome of the inquiry remains unclear, particularly regarding whether the Irish government agreed to the donation. However, Ms Kennedy Smith insisted that any gift from the Irish government was directed solely to support the festival’s costs. She reiterated her belief that her actions did not constitute a conflict of interest, stating, “In short, I believe there was absolutely no conflict of interest on my part.”