Hakeem Jeffries’ aides, NY lawmakers took privately funded Swiss and Las Vegas trips: Report
WASHINGTON, DC: House travel disclosures show that aides to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and several New York lawmakers took privately funded domestic and international trips over the past year, despite growing calls within the party to curb such travel ahead of upcoming elections.
The filings, submitted to the House Clerk, outline trips paid for by outside organizations totaling tens of thousands of dollars. The disclosures have drawn attention as Democratic leaders emphasize ethics and transparency while campaigning. Jeffries has not publicly commented on the filings.
Privately funded travel approved for Jeffries' aides
According to documents reviewed from House Clerk records, Jeffries personally approved eight privately funded trips for his staff over the past year, totaling $32,493. The destinations included London, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Palo Alto, Ireland, Israel, Montana and Wyoming, with expenses covered by various nonprofit and advocacy groups.
One senior aide reportedly traveled to London in July, where the itinerary included meetings with British diplomats, a visit to the BBC, and stops at cultural landmarks, according to the disclosure. The trip, valued at approximately $3,500, was funded by the Global Women’s Innovation Network.
An agenda for the visit referenced meetings focused on entrepreneurship and technology, stating, “We will hear success stories of female sellers who’ve grown from side hustles to full-fledged fashion brands.”
Aides and lawmakers who participate in privately funded travel are required to disclose the trips and justify their purpose to the House Ethics Committee.
In some cases, the descriptions were broad, such as a trip to Ireland funded by the US-Ireland Partnership for Growth, where participants “met with government officials and business leaders in Cork and Dublin to discuss matters of tax and trade.”
A Democratic source said that Jeffries has urged members to reduce privately funded travel. “He’s always calling a number of members about it — and they’re not doing it,” the source added.
New York lawmakers' trips and ethics concerns
The disclosures also show several New York lawmakers and their aides took similar trips funded by private organizations.
Rep Tom Suozzi accepted travel to Sea Island, Georgia, in March valued at $1,369, according to filings. He and his wife also attended a conference in Geneva, Switzerland, last year, with travel, lodging and food valued at $18,932.
That trip, which included more than two dozen lawmakers, was paid for by the Ripon Society, a bipartisan policy foundation, while the Suozzis paid for their return travel. The group had attended a similar event in Vienna, Austria, the previous year.
The privately funded travel comes amid heightened attention to campaign and ethics issues. Earlier this year, Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faced scrutiny after reports showed she spent nearly $50,000 in campaign funds on travel, dining and lodging in Puerto Rico.
