Private jets and exotic dancers among the accusations that Michael Steele is mis-spending Republican National Committee funds. Michael Steele faced stories last month that he over-spent RNC cash on private consultants and fancy restaurants. The RNC federal disclosure has been filed, and the Daily Caller blog pointed out some of the highlights. In amongst other expenses, 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 while – Michael Steele has spent $ 109.6 million of the RNC’s cash, when his fund raising efforts have brought in $ 96.2 million.
Michael Steele may not have visited Voyeur West Hollywood
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. Directly above the Voyeur West Hollywood charge, the RNC federal disclosure also has a matching payment to direct-mail consultant Erik Brown. Expenditures in the RNC must be approved, and so if he was there or not, Michael Steele had to have at least been made aware of the $ 1,946.25 worth of “meals” at Voyeur West Hollywood. The RNC press release today says that they’re launching an internal investigation into the expenditure, and they’re requesting how the cash be returned.
Other RNC expenses by Michael Steele
. A fund raising trip in California included a $ 9,099 bill at the Beverly Hills Hotel and $ 6,596 spent at the Four Seasons. Michael Steele has also personally used over $ 29,000 worth of private jets and airplanes in just February. The Republican National Committee has responded to these claims by saying that these expenditures are guaranteed loans – necessary for bringing in the high-dollar donations the RNC relies on to fund their political activities.
Michael Steele frustrating some Republican National Committee Members
Michael Steele has been the head of the Republican National Committee beginning in January of 2009. One RNC benefactor was later quoted as saying “fancies himself a presidential candidate and wants all of the trappings and gets them by using other people’s money”. One very high-profile argument in the RNC came after Michael Steele contracted Wolfgang puck to cater an event where his predecessors had used Chic-fil-A. In April 2009, the RNC implemented a new rule that RNC checks had to be signed by two officers.
No matter what Michael Steele has spent money on, the federal disclosure makes it clear the RNC is bleeding cash. Many conservatives are beginning to question if the Republican National Committee is spending fund raising dollars effectively.
