Air Force says crew at Trump resort 'not unusual'

[struggle4progress]

By Ryan Browne and Kevin Bohn, CNN
Updated 3:17 PM ET, Sun September 8, 2019

Washington (CNN) The crew of a US Air Force C-17 stayed at President Donald Trump's golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, during a March refueling stop en route to Kuwait, the Air Force acknowledged, again raising ethics questions about government use of the President's private entities.

The Air Force, which said in a statement it was reviewing the trip records, said the stop was "not unusual." But it's another example of Trump's company earning money from taxpayer dollars, which has led some government watchdogs to argue the arrangement breaches ethical norms and potentially violates a clause of the US Constitution.

"As our air crews serve on these international airlift missions, they follow strict guidelines on contracting for hotel accommodations and all expenditures of taxpayer dollars," Air Force Brig. Gen. Ed Thomas said in a statement. "In this case, they made reservations through the Defense Travel System and used the closest available and least expensive accommodations to the airfield within the crews' allowable hotel rates. While we are still reviewing the trip records, we have found nothing that falls outside the guidelines associated with selecting stopover airports on travel routes and hotel accommodations for crew rest" ...

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/08/politics/air-force-donald-trump-turnberry/index.html

[Skittles]

1. "we have found nothing"

well perhaps SOMEONE ELSE should take a look

[struggle4progress]

2. +

[Captain Zero]

3. Was this a 'usual' expense during Obama & Bush admins?

Is the next question that needs to be asked. I know what I would bet on for the answer.

[riversedge]

5. That was my first question-thought as I read this.

[Abnredleg]

7. US has been using Prestwick for years

The airport has servicing agreements with all the services.

[PoliticAverse]

4. A simple question is - how often did something like this happen before Trump became President?

Was it "not unusual" then?

[riversedge]

6. Need to ask-- Did you all stay at Trump resorts before Trump was elected president?????

[spanone]

8. Bullshit.

[Takket]

9. so we've been flying to Kuwait since the early 1990s...

how many times did a crew stop to refuel in Scotland which is...... well... look at a map. Scotland and Kuwait aren't exactly on the same line of latitude

[Abnredleg]

14. It's not uncommon

Prestwick was the easternmost end of the trans-Atlantic ferry route for US aircraft during WWII. If the C-17 was flying from the US with heavy load then Scotland would be a logical place to refuel.

Staying at a Trump hotel was stupid, however.

[RockRaven]

10. Saying "there's nothing unusual here" is not a defense of one set of actions, it is a confession

of far greater misdeeds and systematic corruption!

[struggle4progress]

12. +

[BigmanPigman]

16. Sounds like the NOAA to me.

Is everyone covering for the Racist Rapist?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=12446716

[Freethinker65]

11. Easy enough to back check room rates for the dates in question

Cost of fuel vs. refueling at US bases, etc.

Did they receive a Trump discount? Was it rack rate?

[sinkingfeeling]

13. A quick search on Expedia shows at least 4 hotels less expensive than Trump's.

All located in Turnberry.

[struggle4progress]

15. "Remember to pick a hotel that will not be hazardous to your promotion"

[IcyPeas]

18. between Prestwick Airport and Turnberry there are many...

Google map says:

https://tinyurl.com/y2z9z8om

[uponit7771]

17. Of course 1 stop is not unusual maybe ... but 11 million dollars worth of stops? Really ?! ...

... "allowable hotel" rates but per dium doesn't cover expenses?!