Official Washington has a long, tawdry history of giving jobs to the offspring of politicians and powerful bureaucrats, regardless of their qualifications for the posts they fill.

There was a brief hope the Biden administration would be an exception to this ancient practice. Not a chance:

In the first few months of Biden’s presidency, at least five children of his top aides have secured coveted jobs in the new administration. They include two sons and a daughter of the White House counselor, the daughter of a deputy White House chief of staff and the daughter of the director of presidential personnel.

The pattern — which continued this week with the Treasury Department’s announcement that it was hiring J.J. Ricchetti, son of Biden counselor Steve Ricchetti — has drawn concerns from ethics experts, diversity advocates and others.

It’s all totally above board there’s nothing to see here:

Federal law generally prohibits government officials from hiring close relatives or encouraging their hiring, and there is no evidence that any of Biden’s aides have played a role in securing the jobs for their children or other relatives.

The White House has maintained that everyone hired has been well qualified for their positions.

“The president has instituted the highest ethical standards of anyone to ever hold this office,” deputy White House press secretary Andrew Bates said. “And he’s proud to have staffed the most diverse administration in American history with well-qualified public servants who reflect his values.”

Of course they do. But let’s be honest: getting the kids a job in the West Wing is a long-standing perk that no administration functionary is going to stop using. Nevermind that it stinks to high heaven.