FAMILY TIME

Ryan Zinke’s Travel With Wife Violated Interior Dept. Policy: Inspector General

Probe concludes interior secretary abused his office, department changed policy to accommodate him.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke abused his office by allowing family members to ride with him in government vehicles, an internal investigation at the department has determined. Zinke invited his wife, Lolita, on boat travel, the report found, and also billed the Interior Department $25,000 for a security detail to come with the family on their summer vacation in Turkey and Greece. The report states that the agency changed the travel policy in late July to allow Zinke to transport family “after being made aware of our investigation.” The report also found that Zinke’s staff researched whether Lolita Zinke could be classified as a department volunteer, apparently in order to get around a need for the family to reimburse the department for her travel. Interior spokeswoman Heather Swift said the report proved that Zinke’s travel had been “reviewed and approved by career ethics officials and solicitors.”

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