FILE: US Vice President Mike Pence chats with the media before heading to the Vice Presidential Debate in Salt Lake City, Utah
(REUTERS)
Mike penceControversial ski vacation in Colorado at the height of the coronavirus The pandemic violated federal guidelines and cost taxpayers at least $ 757,000 (£ 544,000) in security costs alone, a watch report has revealed.
The then vice president and his family traveled with at least 48 agents who rented 77 cars during the trip, according to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew).
Mr Pence, who also led the White House Coronavirus Task Force, hiked the slopes of the trip to Vail, Colorado in December of last year when coronavirus cases spiked – even though his group of work had issued terrible warnings for staying home during the holidays after Thanksgiving.
“Obviously, Pence did not follow the advice of the government, and in the process put dozens of Secret Service agents at increased risk of infection, â€the report states.
The trip was extended from December 23 to January 1 and included at least 48 agents who contributed to both the high cost and the risk of infection, he added.
According to Crew, agents have rented 77 cars and stayed at several hotels, racking up bills of over $ 270,000 (£ 194,000) at the Marriott Vail Mountain and over $ 80,000 (£ 57,000) at the luxurious Ritz Carlton.
Donald trumpThe administration has come under fire for violating guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
USA Today reported that the former president and key officials broke the rules at least 27 times from September through October last year.
Several secret service agents have been infected with Covid-19 while others have had to self-quarantine after coming into contact with infected people as Mr. Trump continued his campaign rallies and travel during the pandemic.
The report noted that Mr Pence’s trip during the pandemic was not the first to contribute to a higher risk of infection.
Previously, in April 2020, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump also visited Mr Trump’s Bedminster club despite stay-at-home orders.
In 2019, Mr Pence traveled to Ireland on government business in Dublin, but extended the trip to stay at the former President’s compound in Doonbeg, which cost the Secret Service more than $ 15,000 (11 £ 000).
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