John -

Mike Pence’s recent 181 mile detour from Dublin to President Trump’s resort in Doonbeg shows the true cost of corruption. This time, it cost taxpayers more than half a million dollars over the course of his 2-day trip to Ireland earlier this month.

Pence’s limos while staying at Doonbeg cost $599,454.36, according to records reviewed by CREW. The full cost will add up to much more after flights, lodging, and other expenses, so we requested Secret Service records for a more complete picture of the cost.

Because Doonbeg is so remote, Pence’s itinerary was unnecessarily complicated, with cross-country flights back and forth to Dublin and 4 hours of driving in just one day. It’s no wonder the limo tab was so high—but it didn’t have to be. The government paid the same company $114,000 for limo service for the Obama family's 2014 visit to Ireland.

The steep cost to taxpayers and ridiculous logistics made this trip particularly corrupt, but it’s not Pence’s first time funneling money to Trump. Pence has visited Trump businesses at least 25 times, putting his count behind only Jared Kushner in this administration, and just ahead of Ivanka Trump.

Bringing government business to Trump properties comes at a cost to American taxpayers, both in the steep prices for these boondoggles and in the serious threat to our democracy that comes from a government run to pad the president’s bottom line.

Please take a moment to read the story about Pence’s Doonbeg detour, so that the true cost of the Trump administration’s corruption does not get lost in the news.

With the Trump administration’s constant flow of scandals, we have to be tireless to keep up, and we know you do, too. If you can, consider making a donation to support our ongoing investigations like this one.

Thank you for standing with us against corruption,

Noah Bookbinder
Executive Director, CREW

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