So much so, the IG plans to inspect Pete’s use of private jets
The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) internal watchdog is opening an audit into Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg over his extensive use of private jets, the agency confirmed to Fox News Digital on Monday.
The DOT Inspector General investigation comes roughly two months following a Fox News Digital report that showed Buttigieg, who has repeatedly argued in favor of aggressive action to combat climate change, has taken at least 18 flights using taxpayer-funded private jets since taking office in early 2021. Flight records reviewed by Fox News Digital aligned with Buttigieg’s internal calendar obtained at the time by government watchdog group Americans for Public Trust (APT).
“After Americans for Public Trust helped determine Secretary Buttigieg’s excessive use of taxpayer-funded government jets, we are pleased to see that his air travel is now under investigation,” APT executive director Caitlin Sutherland told Fox News Digital on Monday.
“Everyday Americans have faced unprecedented flight cancelations and disruptions, but Buttigieg has continued to fly private, even on a Coast Guard plane and even when commercial options were readily available.” (snip through a bunch of examples)
The transportation secretary also took a military aircraft to attend the Fifth Invictus Games in Europe with his husband Chasten Buttigieg in April 2022. And, that same month, Buttigieg jetted off to New York City on one of the government planes for a radio interview and two brief meetings before returning hours later.
On another occassion, he flew on a government jet to Canada for an aviation conference, and to attend an LGBT conference. Pete responded
Glad this will be reviewed independently so misleading narratives can be put to rest.
Bottom line: I mostly fly on commercial flights, in economy class. And when I do use our agency’s aircraft, it’s usually a situation where doing so saves taxpayer money. https://t.co/wUtBtjx9CT
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) February 27, 2023
Which seems to be not so. Further, why is Pete flying at all? He keeps yammering about how bad having a carbon footprint is and how great trains, buses, and other public transportation are. Why doesn’t he take those wonderful trains? It was almost a year ago that he was yammering about how awesome it was that the infrastructure bill had $4.5 billion for trains and buses and how public transportation was the solution to the climate crisis (scam). And wanted laws about it.
Read: DOT Inspector General Is A Big Fan Of Mayor Pete’s Private Jet Travel »