Tom Price reimburses government $60,000 for jet travel

House Democrats have found that former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price reimbursed the federal government $60,000 for his share of jet travel but are still looking for answers on whether the same is true for White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, who had accompanied him.

Price reimbursed the Treasury Department in three separate checks estimated at roughly $60,000. The White House has not responded to the details the committee requested on Conway, according to a letter by Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Cummings had asked whether Conway intents to repay the government for the cost of her travel or whether she will face disciplinary action.

President Trump asked Price to resign after a Politico investigation revealed that the government spent roughly $1 million for travel for Price and the staff who accompanied him on work trips. The travel involved charter jets rather than commercial flights.

The investigation found that Conway accompanied Price for at least four trips. Not all prices were listed, but one cost the government $14,569.90 and another cost $44,531.45. The prices include the cost for all travelers.

The investigation found another White House official, Domestic Policy Council Director Andrew Bremberg, was present for at least one trip, which was to Trump’s golf club in New Jersey to brief him about the opioid crisis.

Cummings said his staff reviewed documents from HHS and noted that the committee had not received responses from the White House or had been directed to get documents from other areas of the White House or the National Archives and Records Administration.

In response, Hogan Gidley, deputy White House press secretary, accused the committee of issuing a partisan attack.

“This partisan attack on Kellyanne is ridiculous,” he said. “Members of the president’s cabinet invite relevant White House staff for official travel to events advancing the president’s agenda. When White House staff accompany cabinet members their travel plans are arranged, secured and financed by the inviting agency.”

Cummings urged committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., to issue a subpoena for the information by March 27.

“If you do not issue a subpoena at this point, it will be obvious to the White House and the American people that the committee has no intention of serving as a true check on the executive branch,” Cummings wrote.

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