WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department’s inner watchdog is investigating whether or not Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis improperly used federal pandemic help to fly migrants to Martha’s Vineyard as a part of his effort to “transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations.”
At concern is whether or not tens of millions of {dollars} in curiosity earned on State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, disbursed by way of the American Rescue Plan, was used to facilitate the transport of about 50 Venezuelans from Texas to Massachusetts in mid-September, with a stopover in Florida on the way in which.
The restoration funds program has strict requirements on how the cash will be spent. Documents point out Florida officials paid Destin, Fla.-based Vertol Systems Co. $1.56 million for the Martha’s Vineyard flight and presumably for a flight to Delaware, the house state of President Joe Biden, that finally didn’t occur.
The inspector common’s workplace has audit work deliberate on “recipients’ compliance with eligible use guidance,” Treasury Deputy Inspector General Richard Ok. Delmar mentioned in a letter addressed to Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., who requested the investigation.
“We plan to get this work underway as quickly as possible, consistent with meeting our other oversight mandates and priorities,” the letter mentioned. Treasury doesn’t have a confirmed inspector common.
Taryn Fenske, a spokesperson for DeSantis, mentioned Wednesday that Florida’s Office of Policy and Budget had “articulated to Treasury’s OIG that our use of this interest, as appropriated by the Florida Legislature, is permissible.”
“Reviews by Treasury are typical and, as stated by the OIG, are ‘part of its oversight responsibilities,’” Fenske mentioned.
Markey wrote to the inspector common’s workplace in September, shortly after DeSantis organized the journey, which obtained extensive publicity. The Florida governor mentioned the migrants traveled voluntarily to Massachusetts.
“The use of federal COVID relief funds in this manner runs contrary to congressional intent and appears to violate federal law,” Markey and 6 different Massachusetts lawmakers wrote in a Sept. 17 letter to Delmar. Markey mentioned DeSantis was “effectively using COVID-19 relief to score political points by exploiting vulnerable immigrants.”
The White House has known as the journey to Martha’s Vineyard a “cruel, premeditated political stunt.”
Delmar didn’t point out when the probe could be full. Other regulation enforcement companies all through the U.S. have additionally launched investigations of migrant journeys organized by Republican lawmakers to Democratic strongholds.
The flight has additionally spawned an investigation by a Texas sheriff and two lawsuits. The Treasury Department referred inquiries to the inspector common’s workplace, which didn’t reply to a request for remark.
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