The campaign of Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton has poured more than $2 million into the use of private jets this election cycle, according to a review of its expenditures.
Federal Election Commission documents reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon found that Hillary for America made a total of 48 payments from June 1, 2015, to Jan. 29, 2016, to Executive Fliteways, a New York-based private jet company, running up a tab of $2,128,293 for the campaign.
Executive Fliteways is considered "one of the largest independently owned and operated charter companies in the country" and boasts a fleet of private planes ranging from "mid-size," which can seat seven or eight passengers, to "heavy," which can carry 12 to 16 people.
While it is not clear which jet Clinton prefers on the campaign trail, or if they routinely switch between the jets they use, Clinton has been pinned on Executive Fliteways’ Falcon 900B "heavy jet" in the past, according to a media reports. Hillary boarded the plane, which burns 347 gallons of fuel per hour, shortly after laying out her campaign’s plan to combat global warming.
The Falcon 900B heavy jet carries a price tag of $5,850 per hour and comfortably seats 12 passengers. The luxury accommodations includes a full service galley, executive workstation, onboard WiFi, a full-size private lavatory, and a flight attendant for the "ultimate inflight experience," according to the company’s website.
Clinton’s private jet usage has become a highly guarded issue by the campaign, as reporters were forbidden from taking pictures or video of her boarding her plane at a recent campaign stop.
Jeff Bechdel, communications director for America Rising, says the campaign’s attempt to make her more relatable to everyday Americans is blunted by her penchant for private jets.
"Despite her campaign’s best efforts to rebrand her as a down-to-earth fighter for ‘everyday Americans,' Hillary Clinton’s jet-setting ways are just further confirmation that she’s out of touch with the American people," Bechdel said. "It’s that kind of hypocrisy that makes the majority of voters say Clinton is not honest or trustworthy."
Clinton has long been known for preferring luxurious travel and has come under scrutiny in the past over the expensive habit.
Reports surfaced last year that Clinton took more than 200 privately chartered flights during her tenure as a senator. The flights, which were funded by taxpayers, ran up costs of $225,756. This figure topped $527,000 with the inclusion of her staff.
Clinton’s love of private travel was also made apparent through the Clinton Foundation, which spent more than $50 million on travel between 2003 and 2012.
While Hillary was jet-setting around the country collecting six-figures for speeches after leaving her post as secretary of state, records discovered that, at least on one occasion, she requested a 16-person "Gulfstream 450 or larger jet," according to a copy of a speech contract obtained by the Las Vegas Review Journal.
Additionally, Clinton poured $300,000 into charter flights leading up to her announcement for the 2016 elections.
Clinton’s campaign did not return a request for comment by press time.