The head of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele, faces accusations today of spending RNC cash on exotic dancers and private jets. Michael Steele faced claims last month that he over-spent RNC money on private consultants and fancy restaurants. The RNC federal disclosure has been filed, and the Daily Caller blog pointed out a few of the highlights. 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.
Michael Steele might not have visited Voyeur West Hollywood
Though Michael Steele is the head of the RNC and was in Los Angeles at the time of the Voyeur West Hollywood charge, the Republican National Committee is disputing that he actually visited the strip club. In the line right away before the Voyeur West Hollywood charge, the Republican federal disclosure contains a matching payment to Erik Brown, who is a Republican direct mail consultant. 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 expenditures. The RNC press release today says that they are beginning an internal investigation to the expenditure, and they are requesting the money be returned.
Michael Steele’s use of RNC money
Apart from the $ 1,946.25 spent at Voyeur, Michael Steele has been the person of interest of other disputed RNC expenditures. When in California in February, the RNC spent over $ 15,000 at the Beverly Hills Hotel and Four Seasons. Michael Steele has also used $ 17,514 worth of private planes and $ 12,691 worth of private cars in February. The Republican National Committee has responded to these claims by stating that these expenditures are guaranteed loans – necessary for bringing in the high-dollar donations the RNC relies on to fund their political activities.
Michael Steele angering some Republican National Committee Members
Michael Steele has been the head of the Republican National Committee beginning in January of 2009. 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 harsh criticism for spending RNC cash 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 there 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. At a time of economic downturn, many American Republicans are beginning to question if the Republican National Committee is spending fund raising dollars wisely.
