A government watchdog group is looking to sue the Federal Aviation Administration for withholding the government jet records of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Americans for Public Trust, according to the federal lawsuit, filed three information requests in the past eight months asking how often Buttigieg and colleagues used his agency’s government-managed jets and how much taxpayer money was spent on those private flights. The group told Fox News its requests for the records were repeatedly delayed.
BIDEN CELEBRATES AFTER WEST COAST DOCKWORKERS AND EMPLOYERS REACH LABOR DEAL
"Pete Buttigieg abused taxpayer dollars by using a private jet to fly domestically and internationally," said Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of APT. "Buttigieg’s FAA has stonewalled and refused to adhere to the law for releasing public records, so we’re filing suit on behalf of all Americans who deserve to know how their money is being spent by this administration.”
APT’s lawsuit filing said more than 100 days have passed since the FAA acknowledged the group’s requests, violating the Freedom of Information Act. Federal agencies, according to FOIA, must provide requested documents within 20 to 30 working days.
The watchdog organization filed its three requests in November and January. The first request asked for all flight logs and passenger manifests of the FAA’s three jets. The second, dated Jan. 9, asked the FAA to identify every White House official, executive branch official, or member of Congress who traveled in one of the jets. The third, filed on Jan. 11, asked the transportation agency to include any of its other jets that were used by government officials.
According to the lawsuit, the FAA missed multiple deadlines by which it told APT the agency would send the records.
"The FAA has not communicated with APT concerning whether the FAA will fulfill its FOIA requests since missing two self-imposed extended deadlines of May 1 and May 18, 2023," the lawsuit stated. "Nor has the FAA provided any indication as to when APT can expect its requests to be processed."
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
APT will pursue legal action considering the FAA failed to send the requested flight records.
Flight data between early 2021 and late 2022, according to a Fox News report in December, revealed Buttigieg took at least 18 flights in the FAA’s taxpayer-funded jets since taking office.