Democrats took $60,000 junket to attend Beyonce concert in South Africa
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This was on my news feed today so I am posting it but I have no doubt this kind of grifting goes on with both parties in congress:
Democrats took $60,000 junket to attend Beyonce concert in South Africa
Five members of the Congressional Black Caucus took an official three-day trip to South Africa to be feted as VIPs at a Beyonce and Jay Z concert, according to congressional disclosure records.
The stated purpose of the $60,000 trip in December was to attend the “Global Citizen Mandela 100” concert, the stated purpose of which was to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the late Nelson Mandela and raise awareness of global poverty. The extravaganza was headlined by Beyonce, Jay Z, Ed Sheeran, Pharrell Williams, and Chris Martin.Democratic Reps. Gregory Meeks, Barbara Lee, Bobby Rush, Terri Sewell, and Hank Johnson attended the event with VIP backstage passes. Also at the concert was Deborah Birx, U.S. Global AIDS coordinator and special representative for Global Health Diplomacy.
The National Legal and Policy Center, a government watchdog group, said the all-expenses trip made a "mockery" of House ethics rules that prohibit members of congress from accepting paid trips that are not directly related to their official duties or that "create the appearance that the [individual] is using public office for private gain."
"These members of Congress that were given an all-expense paid vacation to party with Oprah, Jay Z, and Beyonce in South Africa are claiming with a straight face this was needed to help poor children around the world live better lives," said Tom Anderson, president of the NLPC's Government Integrity Project.
"This was in fact, a mockery of House ethics rules on gifts and travel, the truly poor, and all Americans that expect members of Congress to live not only by the letter of the law but by the spirit and intentions of the rules of the House of Representatives."
Total airfare per person cost over $10,000, according to Meeks’ disclosure form. When asked to describe on the form why the trip was related to Meeks’ congressional duties, he wrote: “As a Sr. member of the Foreign Affairs Comm who understands the importance of both multilateral & bilateral relations on trade & foreign policy, developing that relationship is crucial.”
The total cost, including airfare, lodging, food and security, was $60,272.
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THAT TRIP WAS RACIST.
but not one $ for a wall.
I expect an ehtics violation hearing....investigation.
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