Kyrsten Sinema’s not running — but she’s spending big on wine and Aspen skiing
Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ)dropped out of the 2024 election and isn't running for office — but she's still spending her 2024 campaign cash on personal luxury items for herself, according to a report.
Writing for NOTUS on Monday, investigative reporter Dave Levinthal sorted through filings from the former senator's campaign to the Federal Elections Commission and found some curious charges.
In late April, the campaign paid $352 at a “naturally based wellness provider” for “shockwave therapy.” However, it wasn't for Sinema; it was for a member of her personal security detail who continues to be paid through the campaign.
New documents also show she spent more than $71,000 on American Airlines tickets, in-cabin Wi-Fi, and access to the premium airport lounges.
Sinema also bought "concert tickets" for her security detail, totaling $4,662.33.
There was also $1,303.17 at a North Carolina gun shop for “security protective equipment.”
She also spent $572.67 at Three Sticks Wines in Sonoma, California. She claimed it was for "meeting expenses."
There were also $691.70 for “event supplies” at a winery in Oregon. As well as $314.93 for “event catering” at a winery in Phoenix and $245.83 for “donor appreciation supplies” at a Bethesda, Maryland, wine shop. One "meeting meals" expense at a Phoenix wine cafe added up to $195.75.
Her full security detail cost $86,000.
In total, Sinema spent $391,000 between March 31 and June 30.
Sinema dropped out of the race in March 2024.
While in office, Sinema was known for spending taxpayer dollars on private jet travel.
"This is why people hate politicians and especially Sinema," complained the CEO of the new Zeteo News, Mehdi Hasan.
"If you were one of the donors giving to Sinema after she left the party and clearly had no path to win re-election, I guess you've learned an important lesson," said political reporter David Weigel at Semafor.
Attorney formerly of the Republican Senate leadership counsel, Steven J. Duffield declared, "All campaign donations should be pro-rata returned to donors upon candidate retirement or defeat (maybe absent a declaration of a new candidacy). Not given to charity. Certainly not spent or donated to another political entity."
"If Sen. Sinema's 2024 donors wanted to give $3 million to Arizona State, they could do it themselves, right?" he added.
AZ Central editorial page editor Elvia Diaz posted on X, "And still wonder why people don’t trust politicians. Sinema, as many would recalled, sold herself initially as a poor working kid from Arizona. A poor among the poorest sort of message. Everything changed the moment she got to the U.S. SENATE."
Political columnist for Politico, Jonathan Martin wrote on X, "Was there any lobbyist in DC who *didn’t know* what Sinema was doing [with] their contributions? She was having fundraising retreats when it was an open secret she wouldn’t run again."