R.N.C. Spends Thousands on Private Jets, Limos and Clubs, Report Shows
By JEFF ZELENY AND BERNIE BECKER
The Republican National Committee opened an investigation on Monday into why money from donors was paid to reimburse a $2,000 tab at a risqué California nightclub earlier this year, party officials said.
“It was obviously improper – for more than one reason,” said Doug Heye, a spokesman for the party. “It was not a sanctioned R.N.C. activity. It was improper because of the venue.”
As Republicans attempt to win back control of the House and Senate in this midterm election year, several party officials and contributors have raised questions about the financial disparities between the Democratic and the Republican parties. Republican officials opened a review of their spending after the nightclub expense was discovered by reporters for The Daily Caller, an online publication in Washington.
The Republican National Committee spent about $30,000 in February on private airplanes and limousines. But those charges were overshadowed by the $1,946.25 charge at Voyeur West Hollywood, which was described by The Los Angeles Times last year as a “high-end nightclub” with an interior “reminiscent of the masked orgy scene” from the movie “Eyes Wide Shut.”
Mr. Heye, the party spokesman, said that the Republican chairman, Michael S. Steele, was not responsible for the charges. He said the reimbursement was made to a “non-committee staffer,” whom he identified as Erik Brown of Orange, Calif., a political consultant. Mr. Heye said the money would be paid back to the Republican National Committee.
“The chairman was never at the location in question, he had no knowledge of the expenditure, nor does he find the use of committee funds at such a location acceptable at all,” Mr. Heye said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the F.E.C. filings show some $17,500 spent on private jets in February, in addition to more than $12,500 on limousines, which could add to the perception that Mr. Steele has expensive tastes. The filings also list several charges of well over $1,000 at hotels in Washington and elsewhere.
The Democratic National Committee seized on the report Monday.
“If limos, chartered aircraft and sex clubs are where they think their donor’s money should be spent – who are we to judge?” asked Brad Woodhouse, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee. “But, this controversy shouldn’t give voters much confidence in Republicans when they say they want to be put back in charge of federal spending – not that their performance the last time they were in charge would have engendered any confidence in the first place.”
Last month, Politico revealed complaints about Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele's high livin' among the party's deep-pocketed donors. Well, the Daily Caller today puts a price tag on Steele's use of private planes ($17,514) and private cars ($12,691) for February. That's a good gig. Someone else does the driving and he doesn't have to deal with airport security lines and their striptease screening procedures. I'm sure GOP donors are thrilled to know where their dwindling money is going.
And speaking of striptease, the Daily Caller dropped this golden nugget of news. "A February RNC trip to California, for example, included a $9,099 stop at the Beverly Hills Hotel, $6,596 dropped at the nearby Four Seasons, and $1,620.71 spent [update: the amount is actually about $1,946.25] at Voyeur West Hollywood, a bondage-themed nightclub featuring topless women dancers imitating lesbian sex." Yes, you read that right.
An RNC spokesperson insisted that Steele "was never at the location in question, he had no knowledge of the expenditure, nor does he find the use of committee funds at such a location at all acceptable." Well, that's a relief. But, um, why on earth was the expense approved and reimbursed in the first place? "The committee has requested that the monies be returned to the committee," the spokesperson told me. Requested? The GOP needs that money. Steele has raised $96.2 million during his tenure, but he has spent $109.6 million. Perhaps the Republican Party should crack the whip on whoever took the reimbursement to get the cash back. It seems said person would respond to that.
“It was obviously improper – for more than one reason,” said Doug Heye, a spokesman for the party. “It was not a sanctioned R.N.C. activity. It was improper because of the venue.”
As Republicans attempt to win back control of the House and Senate in this midterm election year, several party officials and contributors have raised questions about the financial disparities between the Democratic and the Republican parties. Republican officials opened a review of their spending after the nightclub expense was discovered by reporters for The Daily Caller, an online publication in Washington.
The Republican National Committee spent about $30,000 in February on private airplanes and limousines. But those charges were overshadowed by the $1,946.25 charge at Voyeur West Hollywood, which was described by The Los Angeles Times last year as a “high-end nightclub” with an interior “reminiscent of the masked orgy scene” from the movie “Eyes Wide Shut.”
Mr. Heye, the party spokesman, said that the Republican chairman, Michael S. Steele, was not responsible for the charges. He said the reimbursement was made to a “non-committee staffer,” whom he identified as Erik Brown of Orange, Calif., a political consultant. Mr. Heye said the money would be paid back to the Republican National Committee.
“The chairman was never at the location in question, he had no knowledge of the expenditure, nor does he find the use of committee funds at such a location acceptable at all,” Mr. Heye said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the F.E.C. filings show some $17,500 spent on private jets in February, in addition to more than $12,500 on limousines, which could add to the perception that Mr. Steele has expensive tastes. The filings also list several charges of well over $1,000 at hotels in Washington and elsewhere.
The Democratic National Committee seized on the report Monday.
“If limos, chartered aircraft and sex clubs are where they think their donor’s money should be spent – who are we to judge?” asked Brad Woodhouse, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee. “But, this controversy shouldn’t give voters much confidence in Republicans when they say they want to be put back in charge of federal spending – not that their performance the last time they were in charge would have engendered any confidence in the first place.”
Michael Steele's flights of fancy
And speaking of striptease, the Daily Caller dropped this golden nugget of news. "A February RNC trip to California, for example, included a $9,099 stop at the Beverly Hills Hotel, $6,596 dropped at the nearby Four Seasons, and $1,620.71 spent [update: the amount is actually about $1,946.25] at Voyeur West Hollywood, a bondage-themed nightclub featuring topless women dancers imitating lesbian sex." Yes, you read that right.
An RNC spokesperson insisted that Steele "was never at the location in question, he had no knowledge of the expenditure, nor does he find the use of committee funds at such a location at all acceptable." Well, that's a relief. But, um, why on earth was the expense approved and reimbursed in the first place? "The committee has requested that the monies be returned to the committee," the spokesperson told me. Requested? The GOP needs that money. Steele has raised $96.2 million during his tenure, but he has spent $109.6 million. Perhaps the Republican Party should crack the whip on whoever took the reimbursement to get the cash back. It seems said person would respond to that.
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