Zinke Travel Scrutiny Continues
KTVQ.com reports that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has mixed official business with political activities and visits home, raising questions about how appropriate his trips have been and whether ethics rules have been violated. Zinke’s travel is under investigation by both the Office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the Interior Department’s own inspector general. Travel by Cabinet officials has been closely scrutinized since before former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price’s private flights costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, and resignation Sept. 29.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin’s new wife tweeted about a private flight to Fort Knox and her expensive apparel and accessories. Zinke’s trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands was, ostensibly, official business– but following a series of meetings with government officials and veterans– he also attended a Republican party fundraiser that cost between $75 and $5,000.