Zinke’s 2017 trip detailed in report
The inspector general’s office says in a new report that the Department of the Interior spent more than $25,000 providing security for Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and his wife when they took an August 2017 vacation to Turkey and Greece.
The report, obtained by The Associated Press, said the decision to provide protection was made by a supervisor at the U.S. Park Police after Zinke approached her and asked whether she felt it would be safe for him to travel through Istanbul. The supervisor determined a protective detail was warranted because of an airport bombing in 2016 and a general terrorist threat in the city.
Zinke told investigators he did not ask for the security detail. “They’re paid to do the threat assessment,” Zinke said of the Park Police staff. “I tend not to tell them what to do.”
The report also said that despite an Interior Department policy that prohibits nongovernment officials from riding in government vehicles, Zinke’s wife, Lolita, was allowed to ride in government vehicles with him. Investigators noted that the Zinkes reimbursed the agency for costs associated with her travel in department vehicles when it was required, and that the secretary cannot use personal vehicles because of his security detail.
The decision allowing Lolita Zinke to ride in government vehicles was made by agency lawyers.
The inspector general’s report comes as Zinke is under investigation on other fronts, including his involvement in a Montana land deal with the head of an energy services company that does business with the department. Zinke, a Republican, is a former Montana congressman.