By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, June 8 (Reuters) – A group of six Democratic senators on Monday sought a government probe into U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for taking a road trip for a family vacation filmed for a web video series that was paid for by corporate donors whose companies his department regulates.
Senators Patty Murray, Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, Ben Ray Lujan, Mazie Hirono and Richard Blumenthal asked the DOT Office of Inspector General to review the video series, saying Duffy’s actions raise “serious questions about use of funds and potential misconduct.”
Nate Sizemore, a spokesperson for Duffy, called the effort a “witch hunt” and said career ethics officials cleared every aspect of Duffy’s participation in the Great American Road Trip.
“This is rich coming from the same senators who take millions in campaign contributions from companies they have jurisdiction over to fund their private jets, steak dinners, and fancy retreats,” Sizemore added.
The senators noted that the trip was funded through a non-profit that received significant contributions from companies overseen by USDOT, including Boeing, Toyota , United Airlines, Enterprise, Shell and Royal Caribbean Group.
“We are concerned with this potential mix between personal and professional activities,” the senators added, arguing that if it was personal travel, Duffy should not have accepted gas, lodging, and other travel expenses “from a non-profit funded by the very companies the secretary regulates.”
The companies declined to comment or did not immediately respond to requests to comment.
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. USDOT has not yet released the video series.
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 also called on the Transportation Department Office of Inspector General to investigate and noted a Toyota vehicle is prominently featured in a promotional video for the series.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Porter and Aurora Ellis)
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