Compared to the allegations that have been made against such Donald Trump nominees as Matt Gaetz, Tulsi Gabbard, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Pete Hegseth, it may not seem like much, but his nominee for head of the Internal Revenue Service, former Seventh District Congressman Billy Long, compiled a lengthy history of using campaign donor money to pay for junkets to Las Vegas.
The expenditures appear to be a violation of FEC regulations since they did not seem to have any purpose related to his campaign, any educational purpose, or any legislative purpose.
Long's Vegas trips were chronicled fully in the Turner Report over the years, including this excerpt from the November 7, 2015 Turner Report:
FEC documents filed last month indicate that during the months of July through September, Seventh District Congressman Billy Long spent nearly as much time in Las Vegas as he did in the nation's capital or in southwest Missouri.Long's latest financial disclosure report shows he was in Sin City at least the first three days of July, August 10-14, and September 16-23.
Among the expenditures detailed in Long's report:
-$9,950.08 to Wynn Las Vegas for lodging August 16
-$607.01 to Wynn Las Vegas for lodging September 21
-$8,364.92 to Wynn Las Vegas September 23
-$882 to Caesars Palace for event tickets September 17
-$184.97 to Caesars Palace for meal September 23
Another approximately $1,500 was spent for meals, taxi fare, and air travel.
The April 18, 2020 Turner Report examined how Billy Long managed to get in a few days in Vegas just before the city's most popular venues were closed due to COVID-19:
Long's campaign disclosure report, filed Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), shows expenditures for lodging and meals at casinos in Stateline, Nevada March 9 and 10 and in Reno March 12.
Nevada shut down its hotels and casinos five days after the Reno stop.
The expenditures were recorded during a three-month period that saw Long raising $111,498.50, but spending more than three times that amount, $356,130.32. At the end of the reporting period, he had $475,866.38 in his campaign account.
Long's whirlwind tour began Friday, March 9 with a $536.61 meal at one of the top fine eating establishments.
"No trip to Harrah's Lake Tahoe is complete without a visit to Friday's Station Steak and Seafood Grill," according to its website.
Friday’s Station is a Lake Tahoe steak and seafood restaurant that specializes in a wide variety of certified Angus and USDA Choice beef, ocean-fresh seafood specials and tantalizing side dishes, all served up with a breathtaking panorama of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevadas.
The Friday's Station menu describes an array of dishes, undoubtedly topped by the succulent prime rib featuring "USDA Choice Roasts Aged for Tenderness and Roasted at a Low Temperature for Several Hours. The Perfect Marbling Contributes to the Excellent Flavor of These Center Cuts. Served with Au Jus, Friday’s Baked Potato with all the Fixings, and Creamed Horseradish."
The disclosure reports do not indicate if Long took advantage of the restaurant's offer to make its dishes gluten-free or if he sampled menu items like the "Apple Wood Smoked Free Range Chicken" or the "Prime Grade New York Steak.
Thankfully, the "friendly and knowledgeable staff" helps diners to choose the perfect wine to accompany the meals from their "newly expanded list of domestic and imported vintages."
On Saturday, March 10, the Long campaign paid $530.28 for lodging at Harrah's, as well as an additional $746. 60 also listed as lodging on the report.
The deluxe-sized guest rooms at Harrah's include a flat screen TV, Wi-Fi, a double soundproof wall and special "blackout curtains assuring a relaxed atmosphere."
The windows "provide spectacular lake and mountain views."
With amenities like that, you couldn't blame someone for spending a considerable amount of time in the room, but Harrah's also offers "24-hour casino action," with games including poker for anyone who is so inclined.
No items are included for Sunday, March 11, but on Monday, March 12, the campaign paid $389.40 for "lodging" at the Peppermill Hotel and Restaurant in Reno, according to the report.
At the Peppermill, in addition to luxurious suites, even more gambling opportunities are available. According to the hotel's website, you can "enjoy slots, table games and poker in the 82,000-square-foot casino and race and sports book."
Whether Long participated in any gambling activities is not mentioned in the report and some go to Reno to enhance their knowledge of history by visiting the National Automobile Museum where you can see John Wayne's 1953 Chevrolet Corvette or take in wholesome entertaining activities like the Animal Ark wildlife sanctuary.
Though no other Nevada activities are recorded for March in Long's report, he visited his old Las Vegas stomping grounds in February.
While there were no expenditures for lodging, the report shows the campaign paid $377.35 to Presidential Limousine on February 3.
If you are in Las Vegas, Presidential Limousine would seem to be a great way to get around town.
Not only does the limousine take you where you want to go, but it does so with complimentary champagne, a "luxurious leather interior," flat screen TV, premium sound system and fiber optic neon lighting.
No one should travel in Vegas without fiber optic neon lighting.
A lesser amount, $63.86, was paid to Presidential Limousine February 6, indicating another weekend may have been spent within the confines of the state of Nevada.
Whether that money is the only money that was spent at Nevada casinos, hotels and restaurants is not clear.
The campaign report also shows a credit card processing fee of $307.97 for February 5 when Long was in Las Vegas, plus credit card payments of $18,494.62 and $8,468.06 on March 31 and $21,949.31 on February 21. Though credit card payments are required to be itemized on FEC disclosure reports, there does not appear to be any itemization on Long's report.
Among other Turner Report posts on Long's Vegas trips were the April 22, 2017 report that noted Long made four trips to Vegas during the first three months of that year and 2016 reporting on the only one of Long's many trips that actually appear to be connected to his campaign- a Weekend in Vegas fundraiser on September 30 through October 3 that included a Celine Dion concert and "special guest" Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
While such a fundraiser is definitely legal, Long's FEC reports for October 2017 and January 2018 do not show any contributions to Long's campaign fund being made during that weekend.
Long's Vegas trip, which were far more extensive than the ones noted in this post, were never reported by traditional media.
The Joplin Globe and Springfield News-Leader, the biggest newspapers in the Seventh District, mentioned the Weekend in Vegas fundraiser. The Springfield News-Leader wrote about the Vegas trips in 2012, but did no investigative reporting and didn't bother to check the FEC records. The article quoted from the Turner Report and a couple of now-defunct Springfield blogs that commented on Long's trips.
Saying this about a politician, is like saying Hey your hair's messed up, or Hey you have some mustard on your signed tie. They ALL do it!
ReplyDeleteAs we have recently learned, "just because they all do it doesn't make it right."
ReplyDeleteAnd Nancy Pelosi's Insider Trading husband sold more than $500K in Visa stock ahead of DOJ action. And Joe Biden Promised he would never Pardon his Son - but because the Democrats Sacrificed Old Joe and - "Kicked in him the Kahunas" - Joe thought he would leave the Dems with another Lying Legacy. Got to Love Politics -
ReplyDeletePlus, we need to dismantle the IRS and go to a Flat Tax or an Excise Tax.
https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/capitalization_rules.htm
DeleteI’m not a real Billy fan, but he worked with local governments, very well. His replacement won’t return calls or letters.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good point. I don't agree with Long on anything except...his office was great at constituent services as well as working with local governments.
DeleteThis is a fricking embarrassment. Can't wait till the rest of the country sees this and collectively states: "those swmo people have got to be the most redneck morons in the country".
ReplyDeletewas he ever charged or disciplined for these supposed violations?
ReplyDeleteThe phrase "Everyone does it" is simply not true. Your political affiliation is a personal matter, and we should all strive to choose the best person to lead our government departments. True patriots would prefer an experienced and dedicated individual in charge, rather than someone akin to King George. Suppose your desire is to undermine our democratic republic based on a superficial notion of party affiliation or person envy. In that case, I fear your fate will be worse than anything King George could have imagined.
ReplyDelete“The expenditures appear to be a violation of FEC regulations since they did not seem to have any purpose related to his campaign, any educational purpose, or any legislative purpose.”
ReplyDelete“While such a fundraiser is definitely legal…”
I am not a fan of Long's politics but as bad as he is, he's 100 times more honest and smarter than you. First, you say, "“The expenditures appear to be a violation of FEC regulations since they did not seem to have any purpose related to his campaign, any educational purpose, or any legislative purpose.” My main question here is, how did you come to your legal opinion? Are you an attorney specializing in campaign finance? No. Do you have ANY legal training? No, you do not. Please name the expert from whom you received this legal opinion. No, you won't do that either.
Now, to item #2: later in your “story” you stated, “While such a fundraiser is definitely legal…”.
So which is it? Is Long a criminal as you claim who is violating campaign finance laws or are his activities “definitely legal”? In fact, Long spent all that money hosting people with food, tickets to big shows, hotel rooms, etc, then they gave to his campaign. Every member of congress does this kind of thing and it is perfectly legal.
The fact is, you really have no idea. Your entire enterprise here is designed to exact revenge via slander against anyone who you personally dislike. Anyone who is literate and has read any of your trash knows this because you have a history of libeling those you personally dislike for purely personal reasons. The difference between you and I is that I can provide evidence to prove my claim here.
The good news is that the average citizen in our country can’t pass a sixth grade citizenship test. You know this so you take advantage of it. See? You and Donald Trump have a lot in common!