Did Michael Steele spend $ 2k of RNC money at a strip club?
Michael Steele, the head of the Republican National Committee, is continuing his high-flying, high-publicity controversy today with accusations of RNC money being spent on exotic dancers, private jets, and gourmet catering. Michael Steele faced stories last month that he over-spent RNC money on private consultants and fancy restaurants. The Daily Caller blog today posted the highlights of the RNC federal disclosure. 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 may take a while – Michael Steele has spent $ 109.6 million of the RNC's money, while his fund raising efforts have brought in $ 96.2 million.
Voyeur West Hollywood trip may 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 immediately before the Voyeur West Hollywood charge, the Republican federal disclosure contains a matching payment to Erik Brown, who is a Republican direct mail consultant. No matter if Michael Steele actually attended the event where $ 1,946.25 worth of “meals” were charged at Voyeur West Hollywood, as the RNC Chairman he had to approve the expense. The Republican National Committee has stated that they are launching an internal investigation and are requesting that the strip club reimbursement be returned to the RNC coffers.
Michael Steele's spending of RNC money
Expenses other than the nearly $ 2,000 spent at Voyeur have come into question while Michael Steele has been in office. While in California in February, the RNC spent over $ 15,000 at the Beverly Hills Hotel and Four Seasons. During the month of February, Michael Steele has also used over $ 17k worth of private plane time and over $ 12k of private vehicles. The Republican National Committee has responded to these allegations by saying that these expenditures are guaranteed loans – necessary for bringing in the high-dollar donations that the RNC relies on to fund their political activities.
Some RNC members frustrated with Michael Steele
Michael Steele was made 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”. Michael Steele has also faced serious criticism for spending RNC money on high-end catering from Wolfgang Puck where previous heads of the RNC used Chic-fil-A. Just a few months after Michael Steele was hired, the RNC passed a rule that all checks from Republican National Committee accounts had to be signed by two officers.
If Michael Steele was present at the Voyeur West Hollywood dance club or not, the RNC federal disclosure makes it clear that the Republican National Committee is spending more money than it is taking in. Many conservatives are beginning to question if the Republican National Committee is spending fund raising dollars effectively.
Sources:
The Washington Post
The Baltimore Sun
Newsweek / The Gaggle
