Treasury: Mnuchin sought plane for secure communications
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department said Thursday that a concern about secure communications is what prompted Secretary Steven Mnuchin to inquire about using a government plane for his European honeymoon in August.
In a statement, the department said the request for a government plane was withdrawn because a “secure communications op- tion was identified” without the use of a government plane.
While the department’s office of the inspector general said it was looking into Mnuchin’s use of government planes, President Donald Trump said he had “total confidence” in his Treasury secretary.
“I have known him a very long time,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One after viewing hurricane damage in Florida. “He is a very straight shooter. He’s a very honorable man.”
Mnuchin and his wife Louise Linton were married in June in a ceremony conducted by Vice President Mike Pence and attended by President Donald Trump and a number of members of Trump’s Cabinet. The two went on a honeymoon in August to Scotland, France and Italy.
Treasury’s statement noted that Mnuchin is a member of the president’s National Security Council and oversees the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
“We have multiple issues around the world where the secretary is directly involved in national security, notably North Korea, Iran and Venezuela, among others,” the statement said. “It is imperative that he have access to secure communications and it is our practice to consider a wide range of options to ensure that he has these capabilities during his travel, including the possible use of military aircraft.”
Mnuchin’s initial request for a plane for his honey- moon, which was first reported by ABC News, is the second controversy regarding Mnuchin’s travel at Treasury.
The agency’s Office of Inspector General confirmed Thursday that it is also looking into a trip Mnuchin and his wife took to Kentucky last month on an Air Force plane.
Rich Delmar, counsel to the Inspector General at Treasury, said the IG’s office was “looking at all requests for and use of government aircraft” at Treasury.