Private jets and exotic dancers headline the accusations that Michael Steele is mis-spending Republican National Committee funds. Last month, Michael Steele faced similar accusations of spending too much RNC money on fancy restaurants and personal consultants. Today, Jonathan Strong of the Daily Caller posted his study of the RNC federal disclosure records. In amongst other expenditures, the Federal disclosure includes almost $ 2,000 spent at Voyeur West Hollywood, a dark leather-and-lace bondage-themed nightclub. The debt repair for the Republican Party might take a when – Michael Steele has spent $ 109.6 million of the RNC’s cash, when his fund raising efforts have brought in $ 96.2 million.
Voyeur West Hollywood trip might not have included Michael Steele
Though he was in Los Angeles at the time of the strip club visit, the Republican National Committee is disputing that Michael Steele actually visited Voyeur West Hollywood. In the line right away before the Voyeur West Hollywood charge, the Republican federal disclosure lists a matching payment to Erik Brown, who is a Republican direct mail consultant. Expenses in the RNC have to be approved, and so if he was there or not, Michael Steele had to have at least been informed of the $ 1,946.25 worth of “meals” at Voyeur West Hollywood. The Republican National Committee has stated that they’re launching an internal investigation and are requesting the strip club reimbursement be returned to the RNC coffers.
Michael Steele’s use of RNC money
As well as the $ 1,946.25 spent at the West Hollywood strip club, Michael Steele has been the head of the Republican National Committee during many other disputed expenditures. Combined, the RNC spent over $ 15,000 at the Four Seasons and Beverly Hills Hotel in February. During the month of February, Michael Steele had also used over $ 17k worth of private plane time and over $ 12k of private autos. In response, the RNC has said that these expenditures are more like guaranteed loans – that high-dollar benefactors have come to demand red-carpet treatment.
Michael Steele frustrating some Republican National Committee Members
Michael Steele was installed as head of the Republican National Committee in January of 2009. One large Republican party contributor was quoted saying Michael Steele “fancies himself a presidential candidate and wants all of the trappings and gets them by using other people’s money”. One very high-profile brouhaha in the RNC came after Michael Steele contracted Wolfgang puck to cater an event where his predecessors had employed Chic-fil-A. In April of 2009, the Republican National Committee instituted a new rule that any checks from the Republican National Committee be signed by two officers.
No matter what Michael Steele has spent cash on, the federal disclosure makes it clear the RNC is bleeding cash. When most Americans are cutting back, many American Republicans are beginning to question how their RNC dollars are being spent.
