It’s been a month of “explaining” for RNC Chairman Michael Steele – and there’s likely to be more coming.
The Daily Caller reports on some excessive spending from the RNC (and Steele personally), including nearly $2,000 at a “bondage-themed nightclub.”
Here’s some of the Daily Caller’s report:
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 $1,946.25] at Voyeur West Hollywood, a bondage-themed nightclub featuring topless women dancers imitating lesbian sex.
Let’s go to the Republican ‘please avoid’ checklist: Hollywood? Check. Bondage-themed? Check. Topless women? Check. Lesbian sex? Check.
Needless to say, although Steele wasn’t talking to the Daily Caller, his spokesperson is already speaking out against the “erroneous” report. A spokesman tells National Review:
We are investigating the expenditure in question. The story willfully and erroneously suggests that the expenditure in question was one belonging to the chairman. This was a reimbursement made to a non-committee staffer. 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.
There’s more in here that just doesn’t look good. $17,514 on “private aircraft in the month of February alone” (and another $12,691 on limos), compared to zero from DNC Chair Tim Kaine in the last three months. And now, according to the story, Steele wants to buy a private jet.
This story is continuing to break – MSNBC has teased an upcoming segment, but it has yet to be mentioned on the three cablers. That will change, and we’ll update as it does.
> Update: Here’s MSNBC’s report on the article during the NoonET hour, with Jonathan Strong commenting about his reporting:
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