By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-22 15:34:03 | Updated at 2024-11-22 20:30:38
5 hours ago
The mayor of Washington DC has sidestepped questions over missing receipts relating to trips to Miami and Dubai.
Muriel Bowser, 52, was questioned last week by WJLA journalist Scott Taylor over whether her exotic travel schedule violated DC's Code of Conduct.
Bowser had attended the US Conference of Mayors in Miami in 2022, before making a trip to Dubai to attend the United Nations Climate Conference in 2023.
Another trip involved a 500 mile round trip on a private jet to the 2024 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.
Her office has said that the US Conference of Mayors had paid for both the Miami and Dubai trip, but no receipts with her name on it exist for the travels.
When questioned, Bowser said: 'We're talking about the inaugural today, and we're happy to get back to you on any other questions', before quickly moving on.
A Freedom of Information request uncovered that no hotel expenses, flights or meals exist with her name on it.
The DC Board of Ethics and Government Accountability guidance says that any gifts made to the mayor must be disclosed on her financial disclosure.
Both the Miami and Dubai trips are not listed as gifts on her 2022 or 2023 financial records.
Muriel Bowser, 52, was questioned last week by WJLA journalist Scott Taylor over whether her exotic travel schedule violated DC's Code of Conduct
Another trip involved a 500 mile round trip on a private jet to the 2024 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Scottie Scheffler is seen here celebrating his win at the tournament in April
The board confirmed in an email that gifts can be made to the District of Columbia which involves a donations process.
According to WJLA, DC does not have a donation agreement with the US Conference of Mayors - meaning the trips are not considered a donation to the district.
If the mayor had accepted the gift and it was not allowed under the DC Code, she could be violating their Code of Conduct.
In doing so, she could face fines of up to $5,000 per violation or three times the amount of the gift.
According to her office, Events DC - an arm of DC's sport authority - reimbursed property developers EDENS over $5,700 for her trip to the Masters.
The property company told WJLA that they had been reimbursed, but Events DC has been unable to hand over proof of such a transaction.
Her office said the Masters trip aimed 'to bring more business to the city, foster growth, and revitalize downtown'.
The DC Code says the mayor cannot accept a gift from a prohibited source which refers to companies doing business with the district.
EDENS falls under a prohibited source, as they help the district rebuild the Union Market area of the city and receive up to $82 million in tax discounts.
If the mayor had accepted the gift and it was not allowed under the DC Code, she could be violating their Code of Conduct
Backlash started to brew earlier this year over the travels which was only exacerbated when Bowser took a jaunt to Las Vegas with a team of 14
9 days ago I asked @MayorBowser if she could explain why no district department has a copy of her travel expenses to Miami, Dubai or The Masters.
Plus, why the Miami & Dubai trips are not listed on her annual finacial disclosure forms?
Listen to the Mayor telling me her… pic.twitter.com/69tlGlyhm2
In the wake of a trip to Dubai in 2023 for a conference, Bowser said: 'No matter where I am, my team is working and always in touch with me at a moment’s notice.'
Due to the findings of the WJLA investigation, reporters are handing over what they uncovered for the Board of Ethics to conduct their own investigation.
Backlash started to brew earlier this year over the travels which was only exacerbated when Bowser took a jaunt to Las Vegas with a team of 14.
She described the travel as being part of an 'economic mission' to the International Council of Shopping Centers in Sin City.
'Mayor Bowser will attend the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) to attract retail to the District of Columbia,' the description states.
'This economic mission is coordinated by the Washington, DC Economic Partnership, which has organized the District's presence at ICSC since 2001,' her office added in the event's explanation.
