{"id":2531287,"date":"2026-01-08T05:34:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T10:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-democrats-spent-lavishly-on-ritzy-retreats-during-government-shutdown\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T05:38:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T10:38:21","slug":"senate-democrats-spent-lavishly-on-ritzy-retreats-during-government-shutdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-democrats-spent-lavishly-on-ritzy-retreats-during-government-shutdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Democrats spent lavishly on ritzy retreats during government shutdown"},"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\">20<\/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%2Fsenate-democrats-spent-lavishly-on-ritzy-retreats-during-government-shutdown%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=2531287&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>The Washington Examiner reviewed Federal election Commission filings showing that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) spent heavily on luxury fundraising events during the fall 2025 government shutdown while many federal employees were furloughed or working without pay. Reported disbursements include $62,415 on Oct. 2 to Sea Island Resort, $10,341.24 for an oct. 13-14 &#8220;Napa Retreat&#8221; at Hotel Yountville, adn $21,964.34 on Oct. 29 to the Hotel Bennett in Charleston. The DSCC also posted more than $135,000 in American express payments on Oct. 27 covering travel, catering and venue fees, and an additional $1,480.25 to Hotel Yountville later in October.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the DSCC, said in October the committee might change plans if the shutdown continued; her office later declined to confirm whether she attended events. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks denied hosting the Napa event and said she did not attend. The DSCC did not answer follow-up questions about specific charges or whether expenses occurred before the shutdown.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans criticized the optics, arguing Democrats&#8217; fundraising trips undercut their shutdown messaging. The piece notes that GOP groups also held expensive donor events during the same period: the national Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) had a planned Sea Island weekend (Oct. 3-4) and paid $34,738.60 to Newport Beach Country Club on Oct.14, while other GOP-aligned PACs funded events at Kiawah Island and elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>Both parties defended or contextualized the spending: committees cited nonrefundable contracts and long-planned commitments, while Democrats emphasized their focus on restoring healthcare. The article frames the disclosures as complicating Democratic claims that filibusters were solely aimed at protecting working-class interests during a period of financial strain for many federal workers.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Senate Democrats spent lavishly on luxury retreats during government shutdown, filings show<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2463765\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>During the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/government-shutdown\/\">government shutdown<\/a> of fall 2025, the Senate Democrats&rsquo; campaign arm went on a spending spree, generously wining and dining deep-pocketed donors at luxury locales across the country, according to recently disclosed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/disbursements\/?data_type=processed&amp;committee_id=C00042366&amp;two_year_transaction_period=2026&amp;min_date=10%2F01%2F2025&amp;max_date=11%2F12%2F2025&amp;disbursement_description=catering\">expense reports<\/a> reviewed by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>While federal employees were either furloughed or worked without pay, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) splurged on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/aoc-stayed-at-swanky-hotels-amid-fighting-oligarchy-tour\/\" title=\"AOC stayed at swanky ...s amid \u2018Fighting Oligarchy\u2019 tour\">high-end hotel stays<\/a>, travel, and catering costs, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >including eye-popping sums spent<\/a> at an oceanside resort and a retreat in wine country.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4410892\/steny-hoyer-will-not-seek-reelection-to-congress-in-2026\/\">Steny Hoyer will not seek reelection to Congress in 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4410450\/four-takeaways-house-oversight-minnesota-fraud-hearing\/\">Four takeaways from House Oversight&rsquo;s heated Minnesota fraud hearing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4410692\/washington-democrats-mid-decade-redraw-congressional-maps\/\">WA Democrats push for mid-decade redraw of congressional maps<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Republicans in Congress had blamed the record-breaking shutdown, which marked <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3862393\/federal-contractors-shutdown-drags-lost-paychecks\/\">a period of financial strife<\/a> for many members of the federal workforce, on the Senate Democrats who repeatedly blocked a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-calls-on-congress-to-move-forward-on-raising-debt-ceiling\/\" title=\"Biden Calls On Congress To \u2018Move Forward\u2019 On Raising Debt Ceiling\">short-term funding bill<\/a> over demands to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3846599\/fiscal-hawks-wince-obamacare-subsidies-price-tag\/\">extend expiring Obamacare subsidies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats in the Senate, meanwhile, pointed fingers at GOP lawmakers, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/dscc\/status\/1977370675053474076\">accusing<\/a> congressional Republicans of &ldquo;sending premiums skyrocketing instead of working with Democrats to protect affordable health care.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>However, as the threat of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4399593\/key-lawmakers-congress-looming-shutdown\/\">another government shutdown<\/a> looms, the Senate Democrats&rsquo; spending receipts from the fall appear to sour their claims that, by filibustering, they were fully focused on fighting financially for the working class.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, on Oct. 2, day two of the shutdown, the DSCC tossed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docquery.fec.gov\/cgi-bin\/fecimg\/?202511209792820546\">$62,415<\/a> toward an apparent fundraising retreat at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.seaisland.com\/\">a five-star resort<\/a> on Sea Island, a privately owned island part of Georgia&rsquo;s Golden Isles.<\/p>\n<p>The coastal getaway boasts <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.seaisland.com\/experience\/activities\/beach-horseback-ride\/\">horseback rides<\/a> along the island&rsquo;s sandy shores, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.seaisland.com\/experience\/activities\/beach-bar-daybeds\/\">daybeds<\/a> at the beach bar, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.seaisland.com\/experience\/spa-fitness\/spa\/\">a state-of-the-art spa<\/a>, with signature services such as Swedish massages, custom aromatherapy, a eucalyptus-infused steam room, and guided <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.seaisland.com\/about\/sea-island-life\/an-exercise-for-inner-peace\/\">meditation labyrinth<\/a> walks meant to &ldquo;gently direct you away from the distractions of daily life.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Around two weeks into the shutdown, on Oct. 13 and 14, the DSCC was slated to host donors at an overnight &ldquo;Napa Retreat,&rdquo; featuring a tour of the vineyards, according to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/document-dscc-invite-napa-2025\">an invitation<\/a> obtained <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/playbook\/2025\/09\/27\/down-ballot-republicans-move-on-from-epstein-00583379\">first<\/a> by <em>Politico<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Despite political opponents <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3848467\/senate-democrats-hold-luxury-fundraising-retreat-shutdown\/\">warning<\/a> that the two-day trip reveling in California&rsquo;s wine region would appear wildly out of touch with constituents, the DSCC put money toward the retreat anyway, dropping <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docquery.fec.gov\/cgi-bin\/fecimg\/?202511209792820604\">$10,341.24<\/a> on a booking at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hotelyountville.com\/\">Hotel Yountville<\/a>, the event&rsquo;s originally planned venue.<\/p>\n<p>Located in the &ldquo;culinary capital of Napa Valley,&rdquo; the premier hotel is known for its Tuscan-European aesthetic. Guests there can pamper themselves at the estate&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hotelyountville.com\/spa.htm\">oasis<\/a> and enjoy a glass of wine between &ldquo;vino therapy,&rdquo; a full-body exfoliation with Cabernet-enriched salt scrub, followed by Chardonnay grape seed oil.<\/p>\n<p>DSCC&rsquo;s chairwoman, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3836968\/senate-campaigns-swanky-fundraisers-despite-shutdown\/\">told<\/a> the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> in October that their plans could change if the shutdown dragged on.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Right now, we&rsquo;re focused on getting healthcare restored to millions of people, and I&rsquo;ll make a decision on that later,&rdquo; Gillibrand said of the respite in paradise.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/punchbowl.news\/article\/washington\/day-10\/\">Reports<\/a> at the time indicated that the major fundraiser still proceeded as planned. On Tuesday, Gillibrand&rsquo;s office acknowledged but chose to &ldquo;ignore&rdquo; the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>&rsquo;s latest request for confirmation that Gillibrand attended.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite, File) | J. Scott Applewhite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), who appeared at the top of the invite, denied that she was one of the hosts and said she would not participate should the shutdown persist.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not hosting anything,&rdquo; Alsobrooks previously <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3836968\/senate-campaigns-swanky-fundraisers-despite-shutdown\/\">told<\/a> the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;When we have a shutdown, we&rsquo;re not going to be in Napa Valley.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A spokesman for Alsobrooks reaffirmed this week that the senator did not attend the event in question.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of October, the DSCC paid Hotel Yountville an additional <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docquery.fec.gov\/cgi-bin\/fecimg\/?202511209792820882\">$1,480.25<\/a>, although it is unclear if that disbursement is tied to the earlier excursion.<\/p>\n<p>Separately, on Oct. 29, the DSCC issued a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docquery.fec.gov\/cgi-bin\/fecimg\/?202511209792820875\">$21,964.34<\/a> check to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hotelbennett.com\/\">Hotel Bennett<\/a> in Charleston, South Carolina, reporting the transaction&rsquo;s purpose as a fundraising activity.<\/p>\n<p>Frequently <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hotelbennett.com\/awards\">ranked<\/a> the No. 1. hotel in the city, the boutique hotel received <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/guide.michelin.com\/us\/en\/hotels-stays\/charleston\/hotel-bennett-charleston-11753?arr=2026-02-04&amp;dep=2026-02-05&amp;nA=1&amp;nC=0&amp;nR=1\">a near-perfect rating<\/a> from the Michelin Guide. It is known for combining Southern elegance with French-inspired accommodations intended to transport patrons to the streets of Paris.<\/p>\n<p>That month, the DSCC also recorded dozens of travel and meals-related charges to American Express totaling more than <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/disbursements\/?data_type=processed&amp;committee_id=C00042366&amp;recipient_name=American+Express&amp;two_year_transaction_period=2026&amp;min_date=10%2F27%2F2025&amp;max_date=10%2F27%2F2025&amp;recipient_state=CA&amp;disbursement_description=catering&amp;disbursement_description=meals&amp;disbursement_description=travel\">$135,000<\/a>. Earmarked for campaign materials and fundraising purposes, the payments, all occurring on Oct. 27, broadly covered transportation, event expenses, catering services, and venue fees.<\/p>\n<p>When contacted by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, the DSCC noted that Oct. 27 is the date that the American Express bills were paid, not necessarily the date of each individual charge. According to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/disbursements\/?data_type=processed&amp;committee_id=C00042366&amp;recipient_name=American+Express&amp;two_year_transaction_period=2026&amp;min_date=01%2F01%2F2025&amp;max_date=12%2F31%2F2026\">past filings<\/a>, the DSCC typically paid off its American Express bills on or around the 27th of each month.<\/p>\n<p>As for when exactly the American Express expenditures occurred, the DSCC did not respond to multiple follow-up requests for comment addressing whether they took place pre-shutdown.<\/p>\n<p>The campaign committee also did not respond to inquiries about its payments concerning the Sea Island Resort and the Napa Valley retreat.<\/p>\n<p>During the historically long shutdown, Republicans had highlighted the optics of Senate Democrats, who refused to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jim-jordan-steve-scalise-enter-race-to-replace-mccarthy\/\" title=\"Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise join race to replace McCarthy.\">extend government spending<\/a> at current levels over the healthcare dispute, jetting off to luxurious locales to rub elbows with wealthy elites, but both parties had their fair share of hobnobbing at shutdown soirees.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3834866\/shutdown-sends-campaigns-into-overdrive-to-seize-on-government-chaos\/\"><strong>SHUTDOWN SENDS CAMPAIGNS INTO OVERDRIVE TO SEIZE ON GOVERNMENT CHAOS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The National Republican Senatorial Committee spent considerable campaign funds on courting donors during the shutdown.<\/p>\n<p>On Oct. 3 and 4, the NRSC was scheduled to host its own high-dollar fundraising retreat at the Sea Island Resort. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/f\/?id=00000199-9323-d096-a9df-bbabb5730000\">Marketed<\/a> as the committee&rsquo;s &ldquo;Fall Meeting,&rdquo; the stay included a weekend of golf, pickleball, fishing, shooting, and afternoon lawn games. Invitees were offered beach club bedroom suites and oceanview rooms at a nearly $600-per-night rate.<\/p>\n<p>However, the committee&rsquo;s Federal Election Commission disclosures that fall did not document payments to the Sea Island Company, other than a mere <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docquery.fec.gov\/cgi-bin\/fecimg\/?202511209792871599\">$45.97<\/a> spent on food and beverages in October, as well as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docquery.fec.gov\/cgi-bin\/fecimg\/?202510209791789095\">$40,000<\/a> on facility rental fees in June, and another <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docquery.fec.gov\/cgi-bin\/fecimg\/?202508209789685457\">$40,000<\/a> disbursement in July.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/newsletters\/axios-hill-leaders-be0cbcb0-9fb8-11f0-8a62-09ae7d2f13fa.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiossneakpeek&amp;stream=top\">According<\/a> to <em>Axios<\/em>, the weekend extravaganza was not canceled in light of the standstill on Capitol Hill. Sea Island attendees reportedly received an email from organizers telling them: &ldquo;These events are reserved and contracted years in advance &mdash; beyond even our current term at the NRSC &mdash; and both our costs and attendees&rsquo; rooms are non-refundable.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The show likely went on at the staff level, <em>Axios <\/em>speculated, with the 20 or so senators set to attend largely bailing and those who did appear attending incognito. Even when legislators are no-shows at events, senior aides and political advisers typically still get to schmooze with donors.<\/p>\n<p>Sources similarly <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20251003133213\/https:\/\/news.bgov.com\/web\/20251003133213\/https:\/news.bgov.com\/bloomberg-government-news\/senate-gops-donor-beach-golf-weekend-proceeds-despite-shutdown\">told<\/a> <em>Bloomberg Government<\/em> that the hotel rooms had already been paid for and the retreat itself was booked well before talks of a government shutdown. Lobbyists said the logistics of scrapping a large, long-planned sojourn would be difficult and costly.<\/p>\n<p>The NRSC did not reply to repeated requests for comment.<\/p>\n<p>In the lead-up to the fundraising fete, the NRSC couched it as necessary to build the GOP&rsquo;s base ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Schumer continuing to shut down the government because he wants to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senators-forge-ahead-with-swanky-fundraisers-despite-shutdown\/\" title=\"...ators forge ahead with swanky fundraisers despite ...\">give free healthcare<\/a> to illegals only further underscores how essential it is [that] Republicans protect and grow President Trump&rsquo;s Senate majority next year,&rdquo; NRSC spokeswoman Joanna Rodriguez wrote in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3836968\/senate-campaigns-swanky-fundraisers-despite-shutdown\/\">a previous statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On Oct. 14, the NRSC sent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docquery.fec.gov\/cgi-bin\/fecimg\/?202511209792871557\">$34,738.60<\/a> to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newportbeachcc.com\/\">Newport Beach Country Club<\/a>, although the transaction, categorized under catering and facility usage, was marked as an administrative cost. A frequent gathering spot for fundraisers, the invitation-only California country club has hosted numerous GOP events over the years, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/ocgop.org\/events\/reception-and-presidential-townhall-with-tim-scott\/\">primarily<\/a> for the Republican Party of Orange County.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3854076\/island-fundraisers-rooftop-soirees-babydog-birthday-bonanza-washington-shrugs-shutdown-optics\/\"><strong>ISLAND FUNDRAISERS, ROOFTOP SOIREES, AND A BABYDOG BIRTHDAY BONANZA: WASHINGTON SHRUGS AT SHUTDOWN OPTICS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There was also a big Senate GOP bash planned over Columbus Day weekend in Kiawah Island, a barrier island off the coast of South Carolina. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) was initially scheduled to attend but he had pulled out, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/punchbowl.news\/article\/washington\/day-10\/\">per<\/a> <em>Punchbowl News<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>That trip, too, had long been on the books, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/news.bgov.com\/bloomberg-government-news\/senators-holding-holiday-weekend-fundraising-trips-amid-shutdown\">according<\/a> to fundraising appeals from earlier in the year. Federal Election Commission disclosures show that the Fund for America&rsquo;s Future, a Republican-aligned PAC, gave the Kiawah Island Golf Resort <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docquery.fec.gov\/cgi-bin\/fecimg\/?202511199792689097\">$5,640<\/a> on Oct. 3.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DSCC splurged on luxury donor retreats during shutdown<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3767,"featured_media":2531288,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/government-shutdown-scaled.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[39629,70376,33619],"class_list":["post-2531287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-government-shutdown","tag-lavish-spending","tag-senate-democrats"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/government-shutdown-scaled.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531287","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\/3767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2531287"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531287\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2531291,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531287\/revisions\/2531291"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2531288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2531287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2531287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2531287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}