Here is more info and perpective from HotAir:
Note the sleight of hand in the last paragraph, which suggests that Steele was responsible for the expenses while technically attributing them only to an “RNC trip.” Would the chairman of the GOP, which depends on social conservatives for donations, really be so foolish as to turn up at a “bondage-themed club” and leave an FEC trail of his visit by charging his tab to the RNC? I’m guessing no — although it’s a testament to how low public confidence in Steele has sunk that most people will read that and think, “Yeah, maybe.”
And more at the National Review Corner:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OTZmYWYyZWNiMWVhNmIzNjc0ZDkyMTljNGRhM2FmZDA=
I asked an RNC spokesman about the story — specifically the charge that money was spent at Voyeur West Hollywood.
The spokesman said: “We are investigating the expenditure in question. The story willfully and erroneously suggests that the expenditure in question was one belonging to the chairman. This was a reimbursement made to a non-committee staffer. The chairman was never at the location in question, he had no knowledge of the expenditure, nor does he find the use of committee funds at such a location at all acceptable. Good reporting would make that distinction crystal clear. The committee has requested that the monies be returned to the committee and that the story be corrected so that it is accurate.”
Further, the spokesman gives the indication that there’s more to the plane story - or, rather, less to it - than the piece suggests and insists that “Steele’s expenses” are not always “Steele’s expenses” but finance and fundraising expenses.
Erik Brown, who owns Dynamic Marketing Inc. and most recently charged the Steve Poizner for Governor campaign more than $10,000 for campaign literature and mailings, was reimbursed by the RNC for the almost $2,000 in charges at Voyeur West Hollywood, according to FEC filings and online reports reviewed by The Daily Caller…
The RNC has denied that Steele spent the money at Voyeur. But it appears Brown is close to the chairman. In October, Brown wrote on Twitter, “Enjoying the football game with RNC Chairman Michael Steele. (Eagles vs Redskins at FedEx Field)”.
Hint - Frepers already broke the Twitter story. And here is a question to ponder (if your apologist streak will let you) - what kind of accounting system lets a 'staffer' blow two grand at a perv club - and what other crazed expenses lurk in the reports if a staffer can get this one past the bean counters?
>>This was a reimbursement made to a non-committee staffer. The chairman was never at the location in question, he had no knowledge of the expenditure, nor does he find the use of committee funds at such a location at all acceptable.
And as Bush might have said, the crawdaddying begins.
Just the simple fact that the staffer submitted this as an official expense tells you all you need to know.
SOP. Now the obligatory, we’re sorry, not for the deed, but for getting caught.