While the Air Force called a crew’s stay at President Trump’s Scotland resort earlier this year “not unusual,” it has ordered a review of its process for choosing overnight accommodations following ethics concerns.
Since April, the House Oversight Committee has been investigating the joint Air Force and Alaska Air National Guard unit’s stop at Trump’s Turnberry resort in Scotland while on a trip to Kuwait. On Sunday, an Air Force official insisted that all guidelines for selecting accommodations were properly followed, even providing evidence that Trump’s resort offered lower room rates than nearby hotels.
However, a chief spokesman also acknowledged that military “lodging at higher-end accommodations, even if within government rate, might be allowable but not advisable.” He added that the Air Force will thus review its overnight stay location selection process.
“Therefore, we are reviewing all associated guidance,” Air Force Brig. Gen. Ed Thomas said. “Even when USAF aircrews follow all directives and guidance, we must still be considerate of perceptions of not being good stewards of taxpayer funds that might be created through the appearance of aircrew staying at such locations.”
The deputy commander of the Air Mobility Command later reiterated the purpose behind the probe.
“What the chief is getting at is just because you can, we should also be asking ourselves the question about should,” Lt. Gen. Jon Thomas said. “And the question there is, as our crews are following all guidance and directives we also have to be sensitive to the possible perceptions that might be created on where they may stay.”
Additionally, the House Oversight Committee has also opened another probe into Vice President Mike Pence’s recent stay at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Ireland, 182 miles away from meetings he was attending in Dublin.
