Michael Steele, the head of the Republican National Committee, is carrying on with his high-flying, high-publicity controversy today with accusations of RNC cash being spent on exotic dancers, private jets, and gourmet catering. Michael Steele faced claims last month that he over-spent RNC money 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 expenses, the Federal disclosure includes almost $ 2,000 spent at Voyeur West Hollywood, a dark leather-and-lace bondage-themed nightclub. The debt repair for the Republican Party may take a when – Michael Steele has spent $ 109.6 million of the RNC’s cash, while his fund raising efforts have brought in $ 96.2 million.
Voyeur West Hollywood might not have seen 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. Directly above the Voyeur West Hollywood charge, the RNC federal disclosure also has a matching payment to direct-mail consultant Erik Brown. If he was there or not, Michael Steele had to at least be aware of of the $ 1,946.25 worth of “meals” at Voyeur West Hollywood – as RNC Chairman, he has to approve expenses. The RNC press release today says that they’re launching an internal investigation into the expenditure, and they’re requesting that the cash be returned.
Other RNC expenses 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 expenses. A fund raising trip in California included a $ 9,099 bill at the Beverly Hills Hotel and $ 6,596 spent at the Four Seasons. During the month of February, Michael Steele had also used over $ 17k worth of private plane time and over $ 12k of private autos. The RNC has said that expenditures like this are guaranteed loans – that donors to the RNC have come to expect costly red-carpet treatment.
Michael Steele not making friends with some RNC members
Michael Steele was made head of the Republican National Committee in January of 2009. One RNC benefactor was later quoted 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 money on high-end catering from Wolfgang Puck where previous heads of the RNC used Chic-fil-A. In April of 2009, the Republican National Committee passed a new rule that any checks from the Republican National Committee be signed by two officers.
If Michael Steele was present at the Voyeur West Hollywood dance club or not, the RNC federal disclosure makes it clear the Republican National Committee is spending more money than it is taking in. When most Americans are cutting back, many American Republicans are beginning to question how their RNC dollars are being spent.
