Our reading: the loop closes at the commerce secretary's own company. The agency that grants the incentives for a $14 billion data center build-out is now run by the CEO of a contractor that builds data centers, holds $1.5 million in that agency's tax credits, took over $1 million more in 2024, says it will keep applying, and cannot name its data-center clients. He designed his own recusal screen, and the person the screen hands his conflicts to, IEDC President Josh Richardson, serves under him by the agency's own description. He says there has been no conflict yet. On this structure there cannot be a visible one.

Who read it

joe, from G1 through G5. Goodrich is a public official; this is analysis of a public arrangement, not an accusation of misconduct.

The innocent reading

Goodrich disclosed the arrangement publicly, WIBC's account of its interview with him says the screen was cleared by the governor's office and the Inspector General, he takes a $1 salary, and no document connects Gaylor to any IEDC-incentivized project. Business leaders serving in government with recusal screens is common, and Indiana's ethics rules permit it.

What would prove us wrong

• Publish Gaylor's data-center client list, or the subset with IEDC incentives, showing no overlap since July 13, 2026.
• Publish the screen's log: every matter removed from Goodrich, and who decided it.
• Show that IEDC's data-center incentive decisions since July 2026 were made without Goodrich's participation, in writing.