Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has spent more than $200,000 on taxpayer-funded commercial airline tickets since 2020, despite previously supporting legislation to “hold Congress accountable” for luxury air travel. spent. But during this time, the Arizona independent senator never held a public town hall with voters.
Sinema is facing intense scrutiny for spending her Senate office budget on private air travel for her and her team members, including in 2023, according to past reports and figures reviewed by Fox News Digital. This includes $116,000.
A spokesperson for the senator defended the taxpayer-funded trip, saying the money was used to maximize his time with voters in the state.
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“Arizonas know it takes hours to travel from Prescott to Yuma,” the spokesperson said. arizona republic In a written statement. “Senator Sinema is making the most of his time in Arizona to connect with as many voters as possible in every corner of the state.”
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A spokesperson said commercial flights were used to “connect with as many voters as possible,” but the cinemas burned through taxpayer cash on air travel and did not open any city halls to the public.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has not announced whether she will seek re-election in 2024. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Sinema has participated in several teletown halls over the years, but her only in-person visit was to Honeywell, which donated $75,000 to the senator’s Get Stuff Done PAC in 2022, according to her website. It was a visit.
However, the city hall was open only to the company’s employees and not to the public.
Arizona Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is running for Sinema’s seat in 2024, repeatedly berated the senator for the lack of town halls. On his April 1st, commonly known as April Fool’s Day, Gallego posted a fake flyer in what appeared to be Cinema Town Hall.
Arizona Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego is running for the Arizona Senate in 2024. (Bill Clark)
“Glad to see Kyrsten Sinema finally holding a town hall in Arizona,” the Democrat posted on X, adding, “Arizonas deserve a senator who will meet with them.”
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Sinema previously spent taxpayer cash on a commercial airline, even though it supported legislation to hold Congress accountable for luxury travel.
In 2017, she publicly supported the No Continuous Benefit Enhancements (NOPE) Act. The act called for “prohibiting the use of funds provided for official travel expenses of members of Congress and other officers and employees of the Legislature for the cost of first-class airline lodging.” . ”
As candidates on both sides of the aisle line up to vie for her seat this fall, Sinema has not said whether she will seek re-election in 2024.
Cinema did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
