{"id":1775899,"date":"2022-12-15T08:45:06","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T13:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1775899"},"modified":"2022-12-15T09:59:33","modified_gmt":"2022-12-15T14:59:33","slug":"analysis-of-rnc-spending-since-2017-reveals-massive-waste-on-private-lets-limousines-luxury-retreats-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/analysis-of-rnc-spending-since-2017-reveals-massive-waste-on-private-lets-limousines-luxury-retreats-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Analysis of RNC Spending Since 2017 Reveals Massive Waste on Private Lets, Limousines, Luxury Retreats, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fanalysis-of-rnc-spending-since-2017-reveals-massive-waste-on-private-lets-limousines-luxury-retreats-and-more%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1775899&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Back in 2010, RNC Chair Michael Steele was heavily criticized and eventually lost his position <a href=\"https:\/\/thegrio.com\/2010\/03\/29\/michael-steele-sought-private-jet-with-rnc-funds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">because donors were angry<\/a> about what they believed was luxurious spending on private jets, floral arrangements, chauffeur services, and member meetings in expensive tropical locales. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/story\/2010\/02\/steeles-spending-spree-angers-donors-033324\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Donors were used to frugality from the RNC<\/a> under the George W. Bush administration, when \u201cKarl Rove would bitch if there were flowers on the tables\u201d and staff holiday parties were catered by Chick-fil-A.<\/p>\n<p>Despite Joe Biden\u2019s economy and three straight cycles of election losses, the RNC\u2019s big-spending days are back with a vengeance.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps because of these losses both RNC donors and committee members are intensely interested in the committee\u2019s finances, particularly the spending. Late last week, RedState was provided a report dated October 7, 2022 that examined RNC\u2019s 2021-22 spending. It calculated more than $500,000 in private jet expenses, $64,000 at clothing retailers, and $321,000 in floral arrangements.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_673868\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-673868\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-673868\" style=\"display: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Screenshot_20221214_030222-730x477-1.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Screenshot_20221214_030222-730x477-1.png 730w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Screenshot_20221214_030222-730x477-1.png 1110w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Screenshot_20221214_030222.png 1268w\" alt=\"\" width=\"730\" height=\"477\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-673868\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">RNC expenditures for private jets, floral arrangements, entertainment, and more during the 2021-22 election cycle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>To determine how that compared with the rest of Ronna McDaniel\u2019s tenure, RedState examined RNC expenditures from 2017 through 2022. In addition to a review of Federal Elections Commission (FEC) data, RedState spoke with current vendors, state party officials familiar with the workings, former staffers (some from McDaniel\u2019s tenure, and some who worked for prior chairs), and several current RNC members to verify numbers and dates. Most were only willing to discuss the matters on background, and all were promised anonymity to avoid potential retaliation.<\/p>\n<p>It is difficult to accurately categorize all of the expenditures because a significant number of transactions seem to be misclassified. For example, nearly $5,000 spent in 2022 at <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.lululemon.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lululemon<\/a>, a luxury athletic apparel brand, was classified as \u201coffice expense,\u201d as were two expenditures totaling $9,300 at Madison Square Garden in 2017.<\/p>\n<p>Our review found that the amounts spent during the 2021-22 election cycle seem to have been par for the course and possibly even lower than previous portions of McDaniel\u2019s tenure. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/committee\/C00003418\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FEC filings<\/a>, since 2017, the RNC has spent:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>$3.1 million on private jet services<\/li>\n<li>$1.3 million on limousine\/chauffeur services<\/li>\n<li>$17.1 million on donor mementos<\/li>\n<li>$750,000 on floral arrangements<\/li>\n<li>$80,000 in alcohol-related expenditures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Nearly $400,000 has been spent on event tickets and other entertainment activities, including $30,000 for a private box at a Las Vegas Raiders game, $13,000 for Broadway shows, $9,400 at Madison Square Garden, and $43,000 at Top Golf locations in Texas, Nevada, Virginia, and Maryland.<\/p>\n<p>According to a senior staffer, the private box Raiders game was part of a retreat for senior staff members. RNC funds were also used to fly the senior staffers and their plus-ones first-class to Las Vegas, and for their hotel rooms, food, and alcohol, the staffer says.<\/p>\n<p>Senior staff retreats were also held at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salamanderhotels.com\/hotels-and-resorts\/salamander-resort-spa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Salamander Resort &amp; Spa in Virginia<\/a> in 2021 and 2022, according to another staffer. A national committee member says that at the 2021 retreat, held from March 19-21, 30 senior staffers and their families attended, and the RNC paid for Katie Walsh and Mike Shields to speak to the group. FEC reporting shows that the RNC paid $260,000 to the resort in 2021 and 2022, classified as travel expenses and venue rental and catering.<\/p>\n[embedded content]\n<p>The dates of the various entertainment expenditures were provided to former staffers and national committee members, who confirmed that there were no donor events or other official RNC events occurring at those times.<\/p>\n<p>Under the current leadership, the RNC has spent more than $150,000 on what could be considered non-essential office expenses, including $25,000 on <a href=\"https:\/\/commonwealthjoe.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Commonwealth Joe coffee<\/a>, $7,000 on cupcakes, nearly $7,000 on candles and diffusers, and $75,000 total at Pottery Barn, West Elm, Restoration Hardware, and Crate &amp; Barrel. In addition, the committee\u2019s FEC reports show expenditures totaling $381,000 classified as \u201cFurniture Expense\u201d during the same time frame.<\/p>\n<p>More than $100,000 was spent at high-end clothing stores such as <a href=\"https:\/\/rhoback.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rhoback<\/a>, REI, Nordstrom, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vineyardvines.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vineyard Vines<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.footjoy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Footjoy<\/a>, Ralph Lauren, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carhartt.com\/c\/gift-guides-most-popular\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Carhartt<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/smathersandbranson.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Smathers &amp; Branson<\/a>. An RNC vendor tells RedState that the Vineyard Vines expense ($12,000) was likely for embroidered jackets RNC staffers recently received.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_673904\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-673904\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-673904\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Screenshot_20221214_071040.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"365\" height=\"434\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-673904\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Smathers &amp; Branson loafers, $425. CREDIT: SmathersandBranson.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>According to the financials, the RNC is quite generous to its donors, spending $17 million on donor mementos \u2013 and possibly more \u2013 during McDaniel\u2019s tenure. Custom pins by <a href=\"https:\/\/annhand.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">legendary DC jeweler Ann Hand<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chemart.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christmas ornaments from Chemart<\/a> (the company that makes the White House Christmas ornaments) are listed as donor memento expenses, but the financials also include $65,000 in office supplies from Ann Hand and $28,000 from Chemart.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_673908\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-673908\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-673908\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/ann-hand-and-ornament-730x411-1.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/ann-hand-and-ornament-730x411-1.png 730w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/ann-hand-and-ornament-730x411-1.png 1110w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/ann-hand-and-ornament.png 1640w\" alt=\"\" width=\"730\" height=\"411\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-673908\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">White House Christmas ornament 2017 by Chemart\/Beacon Designs, left; pin by Ann Hand, right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The records also include more than $100,000 in hair\/makeup services and dry cleaning expenses, which presumably are for McDaniel\u2019s media appearances and wardrobe. Dry cleaning expenses are categorized mainly as office supplies or travel expenses, while the hair\/makeup services are categorized as media preparation.<\/p>\n<p>For perspective, the Democratic National Committee has spent $1.5 million on donor gifts, $35,000 on private jets, and only $1,000 for floral arrangements during the 2021-22 election cycle. Longtime RNC committee members who spoke with RedState said that other than during Michael Steele\u2019s time as chair, it has not been standard practice for the chair to use private jet or chauffeur services.<\/p>\n<p>A committee member who spoke to RedState on condition of anonymity said, \u201cWe are only provided with top line financial numbers during our meetings, with no specificity, and when I\u2019ve asked the budget chair for more information, he has been unable to provide it.\u201d The member added that there is general frustration about the lack of financial transparency among committee members, but that members who demand more information are labeled as troublemakers.<\/p>\n<p>Major donors who are learning of the expenditures are understandably upset about how their contributions are being spent. Country music star and RNC donor John Rich, who has been openly critical of the RNC\u2019s expenditures and of McDaniel herself, tells RedState:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe leadership of the RNC has taken advantage of millions of regular, everyday Conservatives by pretending to support what Patriots support, but in reality, are blowing untold troves of cash on extravagant nonsense, and supporting RINO candidates while ignoring America First contenders. They are nothing more than controlled opposition. The RNC ran ads in 2021 raising money under the phrase \u2018Fight for Trump!\u2019 while simultaneously telling Trump and his team to \u2018stand down\u2019 from questioning the election results, stating he was \u2018ruining the party.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe RNC has betrayed its supporters, and I for one will never help them raise another red cent until the Judas elements of the organization have been purged.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>McDaniel did not reply to RedState\u2019s request for comment prior to publication.<\/p>\n<p>UPDATE December 15, 2022, 2:00 AM Eastern<\/p>\n<p>Emma Vaughn, an RNC employee and spokesperson for McDaniel\u2019s re-election campaign, provided the following statement to RedState, which has been published in full:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>A client of Harmeet Dhillon decided to publish a hit piece in the middle of the night without making a serious attempt to engage with the RNC or Chairwoman McDaniel\u2019s team. This blog post is as blatantly false as the lies she has been spreading that RNC members are being bribed for their votes. If critics want to misrepresent and push false narratives about the RNC\u2019s spending this past cycle, they should do the math before realizing it only adds up to 0.8% of the total amount the Chairwoman raised.\u201d \u2013 Emma Vaughn, spokesperson for Ronna McDaniel\u2019s re-election.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><em>(NOTE: McDaniel\u2019s opponent in the upcoming election for RNC chair, Harmeet Dhillon, represents RedState Managing Editor Jennifer Van Laar in litigation related to former Rep. Katie Hill, and Van Laar has endorsed Dhillon in the RNC chair race.)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Back in 2010, RNC Chair Michael Steele was heavily criticized and eventually lost his position because donors were angry about what they believed was luxurious spending on private jets, floral<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1897495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"Analysis of RNC Spending Since 2017 Reveals Massive Waste on Private Lets, Limousines, Luxury Retreats, and More","footnotes":""},"categories":[547],"tags":[9222,7428,5458,7640,9221,7964,5908,4070,3819,9223,5114,6915,3834,6053],"class_list":["post-1775899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bongino-report","tag-9222","tag-analysis","tag-bongino","tag-lets","tag-limousines","tag-luxury","tag-massive","tag-private","tag-report","tag-retreats","tag-reveals","tag-rnc","tag-spending","tag-waste"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"Analysis of RNC Spending Since 2017 Reveals Massive Waste on Private Lets, Limousines, Luxury Retreats, and More","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1775899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1775899"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1775899\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1897495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1775899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1775899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1775899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}