Peters Calls for Department of Defense Inspector General to Investigate Air Force Travel Following Use of Taxpayer Funds at Trump Turnberry

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today called on the Department of Defense (DOD) Inspector General to conduct an independent investigation of whether the U.S. Air Force violated any laws, regulations, or policies related to taxpayer-funded travel to Prestwick Airport and President Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in Scotland. Peters expressed concern that the Air Force’s patronage of the Trump Turnberry golf resort represents a growing willingness among government leaders to engage in questionable taxpayer-funded travel to and lodging at privately-owned properties that financially benefit the President. Just last week, Peters questioned Vice President Mike Pence on whether taxpayers funded his recent stay at the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Ireland.

“Potentially unnecessary spending by the military at a for-profit business owned by the President raises serious concerns about conflicts of interest and threatens the trust that the American people have placed in our military,” Peters wrote. “Taxpayers should never be forced to wonder whether our Armed Forces are making decisions based on operational concerns or to curry favor by prioritizing the President’s business interests.”

Peters’ request follows recent reports documenting a stay by crew members of a C-17 military transport plane at Trump Turnberry. The crew was en route to Kuwait and stopped to refuel at Prestwick Airport in Scotland. In his letter, Peters cited reports that flights of this nature generally involve refueling stopovers at U.S. air bases in Germany or Spain, not airports near Trump resorts. Peters also noted that overnight stops at Prestwick Airport have increased threefold since President Trump took office. News reports now confirm that more than 60 Air Force service members have stayed at the Trump owned golf course.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has conducted thorough oversight over the Administration’s expenditures at President Trump’s privately-owned properties, which create ethical concerns surrounding the use of taxpayer funds to directly profit the President. Last week, Peters demanded answers from the Office of the Vice President, following concerns that Pence had wasted taxpayer dollars on excessive travel and lodging at the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Ireland. In February, Peters released a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he requested on the cost to taxpayers of President Trump’s frequent travel to his Mar-a-Lago resort.

The text of the letter is copied below and available here:

September 10, 2019

Glenn A. Fine

Principal Deputy Inspector General Performing the Duties of the Inspector General

Department of Defense

4800 Mark Center Drive

Alexandria, VA 22350-1500

Dear Principal Deputy Inspector General Fine:

I am writing to request a review of the Air Force’s use of Prestwick Airport in Scotland, related travel expenses at the nearby Trump Turnberry golf resort owned by President Trump, and the Defense Department’s reported negotiation of a new contract to continue refueling stops at the airport through 2024.

According to recent reporting, in early spring, an Air National Guard C-17 military transport delivering supplies to Kuwait stopped at Prestwick Airport, where military members then stayed at the Trump Turnberry golf resort, located approximately 20 miles away. This stop was notable, according to one source, because this route typically involved stopovers at U.S. air bases located in Germany or Spain.

I am disturbed by the growing number of those in government willing to engage in questionable taxpayer funded travel to and lodging at properties owned by the President - properties from which President Trump can draw income at any time. Just last week, I wrote Vice President Pence regarding the potential conflicts of interest arising from his decision to stay at another Trump-owned resort in Ireland at the President’s “suggestion.” I am particularly troubled by such spending by our military services. Prestwick Airport, located in Glasgow, Scotland, is the closest airport to Trump Turnberry, another Trump-owned golf resort. Rates at the resort average $380 a night, though the Air Force and the Trump Organization have provided differing accounts of between $100 and $136 per night to justify claims that lodging for the crew members’ stay at the Trump resort fell within the Air Force’s allowable expenses.

Information provided to my office by the Air Force shows that, since President Trump took office, overnight stops at Prestwick have increased threefold. In 2016, Air Mobility Command had 75 overnight stops at Prestwick Airport. That number increased to over 200 in 2018. During the first eight months of 2019 alone, that number has now risen to 220 overnight stops. I am troubled that this information was not provided until news reports revealed the Air Force’s approvals of stays at Trump Turnberry. These numbers have since been publicly reported, and I find it hard to believe the Air Force was capable of citing the exact number of trips to Prestwick Airport, down to how many occurred as temporary stays and how many involved overnight stays, but, according to the Deputy Head of Air Mobility Command, the Air Force “could not report how many of these overnights may have been at Trump Turnberry. News reports now confirm that over 60 Air Force service members have stayed at the Trump-owned golf course on at least four occasions.

The Armed Forces are charged with the critical duty of defending our nation. They protect our most important values and they are charged with representing them as well. Potentially unnecessary spending by the military at a for-profit business owned by the President raises serious concerns about conflicts of interest and threatens the trust that the American people have placed in our military. Taxpayers should never be forced to wonder whether our Armed Forces are making decisions based on operational concerns or to curry favor by prioritizing the President’s business interests.

Since news reports revealed the initial stay by Air Force personnel at the Trump golf resort, new revelations have surfaced that other air crews “occasionally stayed at President Donald Trump’s Scotland resort.” Acting Air Force Secretary Matthew Donovan and Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein have now ordered the Air Force to conduct a review. The excuse provided for this review by Air Force Brig. Gen. Ed Thomas is that “lodging at higher-end accommodations, even if within government rates, might be allowable but not advisable.” I find the timing, justification, and scope of this review wholly inadequate and self-serving, especially in light of the fact that the Defense Department has refused to produce a single document since Members of Congress first requested information almost six months ago.

The American people deserve an independent inquiry into the Air Force’s increasingly frequent visits to Prestwick Airport, as well as answers to how many of those visits involved stays at Trump Turnberry by military personnel. To that end, I request that you review these trips and their adherence to all relevant laws, regulations, and policies, including those pertaining to travel expenses, contracting and procurement, and ethical guidelines and requirements.

I appreciate your attention to this matter.

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