tlnitcd ~tatcs ~cnatc WASHINGTON, DC 20510 August 1, 2018 Glenn A. Fine Acting Inspector General U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General 4800 Mark Center Drive Alexandria, VA 22350 Lt. Gen. Stayce D. Harris Inspector General of Air Force Office of the Secretary of the Air Force Washington DC 203 30 Dear Mr. Fine and General Harris: I am writing to request an Inspector General review of when and how individuals are provided tours of and access to Air Force One, and of which individuals have been provided tours of or access to the plane since January 20, 2017. I am particularly concerned about reports that "some members of President Donald Trump' s exclusive Florida clubs appear to have been invited to an Air Force One tour last year." According to the report, "two separate tours were scheduled at the Atlantic Aviation FBO at Palm Beach International .. . on Feb. 18, 201 7," and these "two tours are recorded differently compared to all other Air Force One tours ... Unlike the other records, they don't list an agency name or title of the official in charge of the tour." 1 Previous Presidents have provided friends and even campaign donors tours of Air Force One, but the reports that members of the President's private club may have received such tours are particularly troubling because their relationship to the President arises out of an ongoing business relationship with the President. If true, these reports could mean that the President or his family have used government property for private gain - giving tours of Air Force One as a perk for club membership - or that some citizens have potentially been able to buy access to Air Force One via their personal payments to the President's private club. This use of Air Force One would not only raise questions about readiness, security, and taxpayer cost, but it also violates the basic principle against using public office for private gain, and could constitute a violation of federal ethics rules. United States Offi ce of Government Ethics 1 Buzzfeed News, "Some Members of Trump' s Exclusive Clubs Appears to Have Been Invited To An Air Force One Tour," Tarini Parti and Jeremey Singer-Vine, July 9, 2018, www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tariniparti/trump-air-force-one-mar-a-lago-tour. regulations outline the basic obligations of public service and require that federal officials "shall 2 not use public office for private gain." Moreover, federal ethics law prohibits the use of government property, including Air Force One, '"for other than authorized purposes.'ยท 3 To address these questions, I ask that you conduct an investigation of individuals who have been provided tours or access to Air Force One when the plane is not being used for official Presidential travel. Such an investigation should include: 1) A review of al 1 individuals who have had access to Air Force One for tours or other nonofficial travel since January 2017. 2) An analysis of Air Force and White House policies and procedures for determining when and how ind ividuals are provided with tours of Air Force One, and how these individuals are vetted for security purposes. 3) A determination of whether any of the individuals who received tours of or access to Air Force One had a business relationship with President Trump and his fam ily, and if so, whether the existence of this relationship was a factor in giving them access to the plane. 4) Whether any Air Force, federal ethics or other rules and regulations may have been violated as a result of these Air Force One tours, including 5 CFR 2635. l 0 I, 5 CFR 2635.7025, or CFR 2635.704. 5) Please provide a copy of the Air Force's policies regarding the "authorized purposes,, of federal government property under the contro l of the Air Force. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please contact Brian Cohen of Senator Warren's staff (202-224-4543), Roberto Benios of Senator Carper's staff (202-224-4524), Joe Gaeta of Senator Whitehouse's staff (202-224-2921), and K im Quarantello of Senator Blumenthal's staff (202-224-2823) should you have any questions. Sincerely, d States Senator ~United States Senator 2 3 5 CFR 2635.10 t(b)(7); 5 CFR 2635.702 5 CFR 2635.704 Jo~ Thoma~ United States Senator ~t:l~#I Richard Blumenthal United States Senator