Lawmaker questions Holder on abusing FBI travel privileges

Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa Republican and the ranking GOP member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, wants answers about whether Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. and other senior Justice Department officials misused FBI aircraft, hindering the agencys investigations and ignoring a White House order to cut travel costs.

Like a few senior administration officials with high-profile roles, Mr. Holder is required for security reasons to use government aircraft when he travels. But Mr. Grassley said he has received complaints that Mr. Holder has abused the privilege, using FBI plans for travel when aircraft were needed for FBI missions, and, in at least one instance, reserving an FBI plane and leaving it idling on the tarmac when he upgraded to a larger aircraft without telling the agency.

According to Mr. Grassleys account of the allegations, the travel by Mr. Holder and other senior department officials is so frequent that the FBI is considering leasing a private plane to conduct FBI investigative work.

via Lawmaker questions Holder on abusing FBI travel privileges – Washington Times.