By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) – Two Democratic U.S. senators on Tuesday criticized Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for taking a road trip paid for by corporate donors whose companies his department regulates, a family vacation filmed for a web video series.
“Your vacation was paid for by Boeing, Toyota , United Airlines, Enterprise, Shell, Royal Caribbean Group,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the top Democrat on a Senate Appropriations subcommittee. She noted that USDOT regulates those companies and other donors.
“This road trip doesn’t smell right,” Gillibrand said at a budget hearing. “I think it’s wrong, and I think you should explain to the American people why you should spend your time and why you should be getting a vacation that is paid for by companies that you regulate.”
Democratic Senator Patty Murray raised similar concerns. Duffy attacked both Democratic senators for accepting political donations themselves.
“This show is incredibly out of touch,” Murray said, noting that USDOT oversees whether Toyota would be required to conduct a safety recall.
Toyota declined to comment.
Both senators added that a spike in oil prices during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran could prevent some Americans from taking road trips this summer. Murray noted that surging jet fuel costs have made flights much more expensive this summer.
Duffy defended the trip, saying no taxpayer money was used and it was approved by a career ethics official. He said the trip is part of an effort to celebrate the 250th birthday of the U.S. and to encourage people to take road trips.
The trip filmed over 24 days included a visit to the White House, Fenway Park in Boston, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and sites in Philadelphia and Montana.
“No one gets anything from me,” Duffy said of the companies that sponsored the event. He said Congress had directed him to encourage tourism and travel.
Duffy, a father of nine and former reality TV star who also served in Congress, said the show paid no salary or production royalties to him or his family. The road trip came in the form of short, one- to two-day getaways over an eight-month period as well as his children’s nine-day spring break in April. It was filmed as a five-part series that will be accessible on YouTube.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed an ethics complaint suggesting the situation may have violated federal gift and travel rules. The group called on the Transportation Department Office of Inspector General to investigate. It also noted that a Toyota vehicle is prominently featured in a promotional video for the series.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio)
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