Sen. Mary Landrieu (D., La) is coming under fire for expensing campaign trips onto taxpayers.
In September, Landrieu’s trip to a fundraiser in Lake Charles from New Orleans cost taxpayers $3200. Landrieu used taxpayer dollars to fund another campaign trip- from Shreveport to Dallas, which cost $5700, in November.
It is illegal for politicians to use taxpayers’ money and not their own for campaign expenditures such as attending a campaign fundraiser, as Landrieu did.
Her office has said they will repay all of her fundraiser related expenditures. They also defended her November trip, saying that the Louisiana Senator was in Dallas anyway for a layover en route back to Washington, D.C..
Landrieu’s Republican opponents issued strong statements of disdain against her illegal activities.
"Louisiana taxpayers entrusted Senator Landrieu with public dollars. She has a responsibility to use those dollars legally and to uphold the public trust," said Bill Cassidy.
Rob Maness’ statement read: ""…The only reason why she won’t continue to carelessly use taxpayer dollars for charter flights, luxury hotels and political activities is because she got caught…"
Landrieu’s team blamed the snafu on "an oversight" which led to billing errors with the charter company.
