Air Force acknowledges crew stayed at Trump resort during refueling but says it was 'not unusual'

[Demovictory9]

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

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."

The Air Force said the crew on the March 13 consisted of seven active duty and National Guard crew members, adding that although they stayed at Turnberry en route to Kuwait, "it doesn't appear" they did so on the trip back to the US.

The Air Force said the Turnberry resort was less expensive than a nearby Marriott and that both were under the per diem rate of $166. The Air Force also said it schedules stopovers based on such factors as leg distance and contract fuel availability.

Crews use a commercial airport -- Prestwick in Glasgow -- when they stop for refueling in Scotland.
The Pentagon and White House have not responded to CNN's request for comment regarding the stopovers in Scotland and the stays at Turnberry. The Trump Organization also did not respond to a request for comment regarding the stays at Turnberry.

[spanone]

1. By not unusual, it would appear that it goes on all the time....IMPEACHMENT ANYONE?

[jpak]

2. Same old song and dance

[kentuck]

3. What other places have they stayed and re-fueled?

Besides Trump Properties?

Inquiring minds want to know.l

[Flaleftist]

4. Has the airport ever been used for refueling before Trump became president?

Because they certainly have been flying to Kuwait long before then.

[Sneederbunk]

5. Now now that would be an unfair question, don't you know.

[IcyPeas]

6. Prestwick has been used for military refueling since the 1930s.

“Prestwick Airport has handled military and private flights since the 1930s and it remains an important part of the airport’s business”.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-government-owned-prestwick-airport-paid-9m-by-trump-administration-1-4954141

[Flaleftist]

7. Thanks.

If it's normal, then the Pentagon should have no reason to not fully cooperate with House investigation. If the amount of refueling stops and fuel purchased has significantly increased, it would be nice to know the reasons.

[uponit7771]

13. Of course, not 11 million dollars with of refueling though that's the issue here. Not just a few ...

... stops but 11 million dollars worth of stops.

[Turbineguy]

8. On one level,

I don't begrudge Military personnel getting the occasional stay in nice accommodations. They deserve it.

This however seems a bit "too convenient". If Trump wants to make his resorts available to the military, it could be out in the open, and at cost. It would be a decent thing to do. After all, lots of organizations give military discounts and other privileges. Why then keep it under wraps?

I realize with trump, he has to lie when it's less work to tell the truth.

When you're stealing car radios, it's best to break the window nearest to the radio.

[Ilsa]

9. According to the news, the expenses busted their per diem.

Do they get reimbursed for the excess expenditures?

[struggle4progress]

10. knr

[triron]

11. The NOAA's playbook also.

[tanyev]

12. Um, if it's not unusual then why did crew members complain their per diem

wasn’t enough to cover meals there?

[uponit7771]

14. +1, if the stay bust per diem then it's unusual. The "stop" might have been usual but not 11 million

... dollars with of them.

There's something funky going on here