Michael Steele, the head of the Republican National Committee, is continuing his high-flying, high-publicity controversy today with allegations of RNC being spent on exotic dancers, private jets, and gourmet catering. Michael Steele faced claims last month that he over-spent RNC cash on private consultants and fancy restaurants. Today, Jonathan Strong of the Daily Caller posted his study of the RNC federal disclosure records. In amongst other expenditures, the Federal disclosure includes almost $ 2,000 spent at Voyeur West Hollywood, a dark leather-and-lace bondage-themed nightclub. The RNC faces some serious debt repair – Michael Steele has spent $ 109.6 million in RNC cash, when he has procured $ 96.2 million in fund raising money.
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 in fact visited Voyeur West Hollywood. . Expenses in the RNC must be approved, and so if he was there or not, Michael Steele had to have at least been informed of the $ 1,946.25 worth of “meals” at Voyeur West Hollywood. The RNC press release today says that they are beginning an internal investigation into the expenditure, and they are requesting the money be returned.
Other RNC expenditures by Michael Steele
In addition to the $ 1,946.25 spent at the West Hollywood strip club, Michael Steele has been the head of the Republican National Committee during many other disputed expenditures. Combined, the RNC spent over $ 15,000 at the Four Seasons and Beverly Hills Hotel in February. During the month of February, Michael Steele had also used over $ 17k worth of private plane time and over $ 12k of private automobiles. 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.
Michael Steele angering some Republican National Committee Members
In January of 2009, the Republican National Committee named Michael Steele as their chairman. A very high-dollar RNC contributor was quoted this year as saying “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 cash 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.
No matter what Michael Steele has spent money on, the federal disclosure makes it clear the RNC is bleeding cash. When most Americans are cutting back, many American Republicans are beginning to question how their RNC dollars are being spent.
