Washington watchdog files FOIA into Mnuchin's Fort Knox trip
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In this Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, file photo, Treasury Secretary-designate Stephen Mnuchin and his fiancee, Louise Linton, arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, for the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump. (AP)
A Washington-based watchdog on Wednesday filed a Freedom of Information Act to learn more about Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and his wife's now-famous trip to Kentucky to watch the solar eclipse.
“We’re not sure about the motive for the trip, but we filed the [Freedom of Information Act request] to get more information about it,” Jordan Libowitz, a spokesman for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, told the Washington Post.
In all likelihood the Monday trip would have gone unnoticed. But Mnuchin's wife, Louise Linton, posted a picture of the two deboarding a government plane and started an Instagram firestorm.
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She tagged some of the luxury items she was wearing, and that prompted one user to post: “Glad we could pay for your little getaway. #deplorable.”
Linton, an actress, went on to confront the woman while boasting about their wealth. She later apologized.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and the group are now looking into purpose of the trip given the timing corresponding with the solar eclipse.
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Treasury officials told the paper that the trip was around “official government travel,” and denied that the visit to Fort Knox visit was just a ploy to view the eclipse.
An unnamed Treasury spokesperson told the paper that Mnuchin "is reimbursing the government for Mrs. Linton's travel, as is long-standing policy regarding civilians on military aircraft." The rate can reportedly go for $10,000 an hour.
Mnuchin appeared with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at a luncheon with the Louisville Chamber of Commerce, the report said. The two went on to tour the gold bullion depository in Fort Knox, valued at around $180 billion.