Obama puts more than 100 aides and close friends in government posts before he leaves office

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

With just days left before he leaves office, President Barack Obama has appointed over 100 aides and close friends to government positions.

These appointments include senior adviser Valerie Jarrett and National Security Adviser Susan Rice, both of whom were appointed to the Board of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts as General Trustees.

Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes, meanwhile, was appointed as a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. Other positions include appointments to the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service and the National Infrastructure Advisory Council. 17 of the appointments will require Senate approval.

— ‘Lifelong Republican’ says he would be dead if not for Obama — 

In defending the last-minute appointments, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that their record “speaks for themselves” and called the positions “new and different ways for them to serve that appeal to their own personal interests.”

“This is entirely consistent with the executive authority that’s vested in the White House,” Earnest said, noting that there were no ethical concerns about the appointments because “President Obama’s executing that authority consistent with the best interest of the American people.”

However, many detractors feel that the last-minute appointment of friends and supporters is a rewards system that speaks to corruption in Washington.

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