Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Montana) has been nominated as Secretary of the Interior by Republican president-elect Donald Trump. Photo by Gage Skidmore
Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Montana) engaged in a "pattern of travel fraud" during his time with the Navy SEALs, The Intercept reports. Zinke, who spent 23 years with the elite unit, was warned about his travel to and from his home in Montana, according to the report. He claimed he was going there on military business but also admitted the trips were of a personal nature, multiple sources told The Intercept. Zinke, however, was never punished or reprimanded. He was eventually ordered to repay $211 for one flight to Montana, The Missoulian reported in 2014, when the issue surfaced during his U.S. Congressional campaign. The travel at issue occurred during two years of Zinke's service, according to The Intercept and The Missoulian. He otherwise received positive reports performance reports during his time with the Navy. Zinke has been tapped by Republican president-elect Donald Trump to lead the Interior Department. In that role, he would oversee the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians and the National Indian Gaming Commission. The post is subject to confirmation by the Senate. Hearings are expected in January. Read More on the Story:
Trump’s Pick for Interior Secretary Was Caught in “Pattern of Fraud” at SEAL Team 6 (The Intercept 12/20)
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