Treasury Secretary Mnuchin requested government jet for European honeymoon

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

first the eclipse at fort knox, now this 

 

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/treasury-secretary-mnuchin-requested-government-jet-european-honeymoon/story?id=49777076

 

Secretary Steven Mnuchin requested use of a government jet to take him and his wife on their honeymoon in Scotland, France and Italy earlier this summer, sparking an “inquiry” by The Treasury Department's Office of Inspector General, sources tell ABC News.

Officials familiar with the matter say the highly unusual ask for a U.S. Air Force jet, which according to an Air Force spokesman could cost roughly $25,000 per hour to operate, was put in writing by the secretary's office but eventually deemed unnecessary after further consideration of by Treasury Department officials.

Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said in an interview with ABC News that Mnuchin's request for a government jet on his honeymoon defies common sense.

"You don't need a giant rulebook of government requirements to just say yourself, 'This is common sense, it's wrong,'" Wyden said. "That's just slap your forehead stuff."

 

Mnuchin, an independently wealthy former Goldman Sachs banker, has already triggered a review of his travel for using government jet to travel to Louisville and Fort Knox, Kentucky last month. The inspector general is reviewing whether he improperly used that trip to catch a prime view of the solar eclipse with his wife, a Scottish actress and model named Louise Linton.

Mnuchin's office denied he took that trip to watch the eclipse and said he was there to attend meetings on tax reform, and the Treasury Department said the Mnuchins would reimburse the government for Linton’s travel costs.

An official within The Treasury Department's Office of Inspector General said that in addition to reviewing the Kentucky trip, it has started an official "inquiry" into Mnuchin's honeymoon travel request.

A spokesman for the Treasury Department told ABC News that the secretary requested government travel for his honeymoon out of a concern for maintaining a secure method of communication.

“The Secretary is a member of the National Security Council and has responsibility for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence," the spokesman said in a statement. "It is imperative that he have access to secure communications, and it is our practice to consider a wide range of options to ensure he has these capabilities during his travel, including the possible use of military aircraft."

The spokesman added the secretary's office ultimately decided the use of military aircraft was "unnecessary" after it became apparent that other methods for secure communication were available.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

That's some crazy mess.

[Dashinka 24,598]

6 hours ago, Ebunoluwa said:

That's some crazy mess.

Is it?  Did he actually use a government plane for his honeymoon, or did he just inquire as to the travel policies of the Treasury Department and a way to secure is communications while abroad?  Sounds like the story says they found a different way to take care of his communications and no government plan was used.  I love when folks are persecuted because they asked a question.

 

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

4 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

Is it?  Did he actually use a government plane for his honeymoon, or did he just inquire as to the travel policies of the Treasury Department and a way to secure is communications while abroad?  Sounds like the story says they found a different way to take care of his communications and no government plan was used.  I love when folks are persecuted because they asked a question.

 

Ohgawd

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

14 minutes ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

Ohgawd

[Dashinka 24,598]

1 hour ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

Ohgawd

So no answer to my question?  Just like all the stories about this crazy mess that really isn't one.

 

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

26 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

So no answer to my question?  Just like all the stories about this crazy mess that really isn't one.

 

 

 Who in the Federal government goes on a honeymoon vacation and requests military aircraft? 

 

 

[Dashinka 24,598]

24 minutes ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

 Who in the Federal government goes on a honeymoon vacation and requests military aircraft? 

 

 

Sounds like it was a working vacation, but that still doesn't answer my question.  Did he use a military plane or is he being persecuted for asking a question?

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

57 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Sounds like it was a working vacation, but that still doesn't answer my question.  Did he use a military plane or is he being persecuted for asking a question?

I didn't feel the need to explain my lack of interest in repeating what the article pointed out.
The question alone is nuts and a blind horse can see he was trying to milk it all veiled under 'secure communications.' Give me a break.
 

Quote "Mnuchin's request for a government jet on his honeymoon defies common sense."

"You don't need a giant rulebook of government requirements to just say yourself, 'This is common sense, it's wrong,'" Wyden said. "That's just slap your forehead stuff."

End quote.

 

A simple duh moment for me.

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

33 minutes ago, Ebunoluwa said:

I didn't feel the need to explain my lack of interest in repeating what the article pointed out.
The question alone is nuts and a blind horse can see he was trying to milk it all veiled under 'secure communications.' Give me a break.
 

Quote "Mnuchin's request for a government jet on his honeymoon defies common sense."

"You don't need a giant rulebook of government requirements to just say yourself, 'This is common sense, it's wrong,'" Wyden said. "That's just slap your forehead stuff."

End quote.

 

A simple duh moment for me.

And...We may have never heard of this potential fiasco if it was not for the actual fiasco of Mnuchin using a federal aircraft to "visit fort Knox" just in time to see the eclipse. Your tax dollars at work.  

 

 

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

1 hour ago, Bill & Katya said:

Sounds like it was a working vacation, but that still doesn't answer my question.  Did he use a military plane or is he being persecuted for asking a question?

Persecuted? Does he look persecuted to you? 

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

52 minutes ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

And...We may have never heard of this potential fiasco if it was not for the actual fiasco of Mnuchin using a federal aircraft to "visit fort Knox" just in time to see the eclipse. Your tax dollars at work.  

 

 

I was going to bring that up too but.....am not trying to convince anyone of the obvious. I just think the base had a rough week  with Trump flip flops.

52 minutes ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

Persecuted? Does he look persecuted to you? 

Deprived of reality is what he looks like.

[Dashinka 24,598]

55 minutes ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

Persecuted? Does he look persecuted to you? 

Did he do anything wrong?  Was a military aircraft used?  It is amazing someone thought the fact that the question alone was newsworthy, but I suppose that anything negative is for the mainstream media to hype.

[Dashinka 24,598]

1 hour ago, Ebunoluwa said:

I didn't feel the need to explain my lack of interest in repeating what the article pointed out.
The question alone is nuts and a blind horse can see he was trying to milk it all veiled under 'secure communications.' Give me a break.
 

Quote "Mnuchin's request for a government jet on his honeymoon defies common sense."

"You don't need a giant rulebook of government requirements to just say yourself, 'This is common sense, it's wrong,'" Wyden said. "That's just slap your forehead stuff."

End quote.

 

A simple duh moment for me.

That is rich, a senator saying something defies common sense.  Again, was there any wrongdoing here, or is the simple fact that someone asked a question grounds for removal now?

 

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

1 minute ago, Bill & Katya said:

That is rich, a senator saying something defies common sense.  Again, was there any wrongdoing here, or is the simple fact that someone asked a question grounds for removal now?

 

 He did not just ask the question, he requested the air craft. Try bonking your own head until it gets through what the issue is here.
Was it wrong ? At the very least incredibly stupid, a waste of tax payers money and shows entitlement for the second time.
Not sure why that riles you up so much, there is plenty of other stuff for you to get bonky about.