Ryan Zinke spent $6 250 on a helicopter so he could ride a horse with Mike Pence
Ryan Zinke
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke  spent more than $14 000 on government helicopter rides for  himself   and staff  to travel to and from Washington D.C. events over the summer â including one time so  he  could ride horses with Vice President Mike Pence  a new investigation unveiled.
Through a Freedom of Information Act request   Zinke 's travel logs revealed  he  had used "taxpayer-funded vehicles from the U.S. Park Police to help accommodate  his  political events schedule " the Politico investigation reported.
On June 21   Zinke  ordered a Park Police helicopter for  him  and  his  chief of staff  Scott Hommel  in order to attend and emergency management exercise in Shepherdstown  West Virginia  Politico reported. The flight cost $8 000 and was justified by the Interior Department because it said  Zinke  wouldn't have been able to make the event in time otherwise.
"Secretary Zinkeâs last engagement in Washington D.C. is at 2 p.m. " and Interior staffer explained as a defense for  Zinke 's helicopter use. "Driving to [the West Virginia event] would not enable him to be on time and fully participate as scheduled."
Zinke's prior engagement was a ceremony for Rep. Greg Gianforte  R-Mont.  who filled  Zinke 's former seat with a special election victory in May. Gianforte and his wife also donated $15 800 to  Zinke 's previous congressional campaigns  Politico reported.
[TGT] spent more than $14 000 on government helicopter rides for   [TGT]    and staff  to travel to and from Washington D.C. events over the summer â including one time so   [TGT]   could ride horses with Vice President Mike Pence  a new investigation unveiled.
Through a Freedom of Information Act request   Zinke 's travel logs revealed   [TGT]   had used "taxpayer-funded vehicles from the U.S. Park Police to help accommodate   [TGT]   political events schedule " the Politico investigation reported.
On June 21   Zinke  ordered a Park Police helicopter for  him  and  his  chief of staff  Scott Hommel  in order to attend and emergency management exercise in Shepherdstown  West Virginia  Politico reported. The flight cost $8 000 and was justified by the Interior Department because it said  Zinke  wouldn't have been able to make the event in time otherwise.
"Secretary Zinkeâs last engagement in Washington D.C. is at 2 p.m. " and Interior staffer explained as a defense for  Zinke 's helicopter use. "Driving to [the West Virginia event] would not enable him to be on time and fully participate as scheduled."
Zinke's prior engagement was a ceremony for Rep. Greg Gianforte  R-Mont.  who filled  Zinke 's former seat with a special election victory in May. Gianforte and his wife also donated $15 800 to  Zinke 's previous congressional campaigns  Politico reported.