During official Republican National Committee trips, chairman Michael Steele spent tens of thousands of dollars on private air travel, limousines and hotels according to an investigation by The Daily Caller.
The conservative website founded by pundit Tucker Carlson looked at FEC filings and also alleged that during a February RNC visit to Beverly Hills, Steele spent $1,946.25 at "Voyeur West Hollywood, a bondage-themed nightclub featuring topless women dancers imitating lesbian sex."
The Republican National Committee disputed that Steele himself had spent money at the Hollywood nightclub. "This was a reimbursement made to a non-committee staffer,'' the RNC said in a statement. "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 at all acceptable."
The Daily Caller said that Steele looked into the possibility of purchasing a private jet for his travel, or at least buying partial ownership in one. The purchase was never made, but Steele regularly charters aircraft. During February the chairman spent $17,514 on private planes (as well as $12,691 on limousines that same month), according to federal filings.
Steele refused interview requests but the RNC defended Steele's travel budget to Strong:
The RNC explains that Steele charters jets only when commercial service is unavailable, or when his tight schedule requires it. "Anytime the chairman has taken any private travel has been either to a route that doesn't exist or because of connections and multiple travel to where he just wasn't able to do so," (spokesman Doug) Heye said.
The Committee points out that extravagant accommodations can help attract big-spending donors. But critics say fundraising is not always Steele's priority: "This is not somebody who is out recruiting candidates," said an aide who worked closely with Steele. "He is not meeting with donors. He's not asking for money.''
The Daily Caller said that a March 20 FEC filing showed the RNC had $9.5 million cash on hand. It said Steele began his tenure with $22.8 million, and has since raised $96.2 million. During the same period, however, the RNC has spent $109.6 million, which included aid to the campaigns that elected Gov. Bob McDonnell in Virginia and Gov. Chris Christie in New Jersey.
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