A member of the Republican National Committee's top panel will call for an investigation of RNC Chairman Michael S. Steele's spending, warning that "cronyism" dried up big-donor fundraising this year and now is jeopardizing major-donor fundraising for the 2012 GOP presidential nominating convention in Tampa, Fla.
Top Republican officials are outraged at Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele’s latest – and potentially last – spending scandal.
This time, Steele paid his former personal assistant, Belinda Cook, tens of thousands of dollars to begin work on the 2012 Republican convention in Tampa, Fla.
Cook’s qualifications for such a key position are unknown. Her son and sister are also on the payroll, and the GOP is paying rent on a posh waterfront mansion for Cook to reside in.
Solomon Yue, a member of the RNC’s Executive Committee, the top rung under the chairman in the committee’s power structure, is demanding an investigation into the suspicious spending.
Three GOP officials close to the situation confirm the payments are for a waterfront mansion on South Yacht Drive in Treasure Island, Fla. Public records confirm Cook is living at the address.
The 3,143 square foot house features a private pool and dock. Including the garage and open porch, the house is over 4,200 square feet. A spokesman for Steele did not reply to a request for comment.
In the 2008 cycle, top convention officials did not move to the host city until April 2008. When they did, they lived in sparse, one bedroom apartments one or two blocks from the convention site.
Steele is facing charges of cronyism for Cook’s extravagant salary and accommodations. But also on the payroll are Cook’s son, Lee, and sister, Betina Barcus, who has been paid over $25,000 for “hotel management consulting.”
http://dailycaller.com/2010/11/29/key-gop-official-demands-investigation-into-latest-steele-spending-scandal/
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