It’s day three of our weekly run-up to the White House Correspondents Dinner (WHCD). If you missed our previous releases, check them out here:
Excuse #2: “attended several meetings.”
Today we are highlighting her third excuse: “official business in the office.”
“Another day, another excuse,” said DCCC Spokesman Tyler Law. “Unfortunately, Congresswoman Love decided to put herself before Utah.”
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Mia Love paying back money spent on questioned D.C. trip
Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — Rep. Mia Love is paying back the cost of a weekend trip to Washington, D.C., last April after a national publication questioned more than $1,100 in travel expenses billed to taxpayers.
In a Thursday blog post, The Hill said a review of House expense records showed the Utah Republican returned to Washington the same weekend she attended the White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner and other social events.
The political news source cited House rules allowing members to be reimbursed for flights to and from their districts, but not “to pay for any expense related to activities or events that are primarily social in nature.”
Love’s spokesman, Richard Piatt, said in a statement the flights the congresswoman took between Salt Lake City and Washington on April 25-26 were booked by a staff member and paid for from the official office account.
“The trip included time for official business in the office, as well as for the correspondents dinner that weekend,” Piatt said.
“If the reports are true, Mia Love ought to apologize and immediately pay back any public funds she used inappropriately,” Owens said in a statement.