Judicial Watch Obtains Documents Detailing the Cost to Taxpayers for Michelle Obama’s Family Trip

Judicial Watch ^ | October 4, 2011

[jazusamo]

Complete title: Judicial Watch Obtains Documents Detailing the Cost to Taxpayers for Michelle Obama’s Family Trip to Africa

Charges for the Aircraft and Crew Alone Amount to $424,142

Washington, DC -- October 4, 2011

Judicial Watch, the organization that investigates and fights government corruption, announced today that it has obtained mission expense records and passenger manifests from the United States Air Force related to the June 21-27, 2011, trip taken by First Lady Michelle Obama, her family and her staff to South Africa and Botswana. Judicial Watch obtained the documents pursuant to an August 19, 2011, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit ( Judicial Watch v. U.S. Air Force (No. 11-1496)). Judicial Watch is investigating the purpose and itinerary of the trip as well as a breakdown of the costs to taxpayers.

On June 28, 2011, Judicial Watch filed a FOIA request seeking the mission taskings, transportation records, and passenger manifests for Michelle Obama’s Africa trip. Documents were only provided after Judicial Watch filed suit:

• According to U.S. Department of Defense’s published hourly rates for the C-32A aircraft used for the trip, Judicial Watch calculated the total cost to American taxpayers was $424,142 for use of the aircraft (34.8 flight hours x $12,188 per hour). (The C-32 is a specially configured military version of the Boeing 757.) Other expenses - meals (off the plane), transportation, security, various services, etc. - have yet to be disclosed.
• The passenger manifests confirm the presence of Obama’s daughter’s, Malia and Sasha on the trip. The two girls are listed as “Senior Staff.” The manifests also list Mrs. Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, and niece and nephew, Leslie and Avery Robinson, as well Mrs. Obama’s makeup and hairstylist (Carl Ray and Johnny Wright).
• The expense records also show $928.44 was spent for “bulk food” purchases on flight. Overall, during the trip, 192 meals were served for the 21 passengers on board.

The professed purpose of Michelle Obama’s trip to South Africa and Botswana was to encourage young people living in the two growing democracies to become involved in national affairs; and during her scheduled stops in Pretoria and Cape Town, South Africa and in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, the First Lady used the opportunity to speak on education, health and wellness issues.

The trip also included such tourist events as visits to historical landmarks and museums, plus a nonworking chance to send time with Nelson Mandela, a meeting that Mrs. Obama described as “surreal.” The trip ended with a private family safari at a South African game reserve before the group returned to Washington on June 27.

“This trip was as much an opportunity for the Obama family to go on a safari as it was a trip to conduct government business,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “This junket wasted tax dollars and the resources of our overextended military. No wonder we had to sue to pry loose this information.”

Previously, Judicial Watch uncovered that the First Couple’s 2009 “date night” trip to New York for dinner and a Broadway show cost taxpayers over $11,000 in Secret Service costs alone.

[EyeGuy]

Reparations.....

[The Mayor]

Yes.

[jazusamo]

Yep, she’s getting them any way she can.

[MichaelCorleone]

***...total cost to American taxpayers was $424,142 for use of the aircraft...***

Of which $400,000 was to pay for the extra fuel needed to move that piece of cargo known as Michelle, and 24,000 to replace the blown tires and bent landing gear that couldn’t handle the unusually heavy load known as Michelle Obama.

[jazusamo]

Please bump the Freepathon or click above and donate or become a monthly donor!

[COBOL2Java]

The two girls are listed as “Senior Staff.”

LOL. Well, considering the quality of the Administration's staff, I'd say that's not far from the mark.

[donhunt]

I want to be her hairstylist. I could do that. .....Well, sort of.......

[derllak]

192 meals for 21 passengers.

These people are unreal.

[EyeGuy]

Via gold-plated, 5 Star, ultra first class, platinum level spending, she SINGLEHANDEDLY ought to be able to make up for about 50 years of North American slavery.

“Yep, she’s getting them any way she can.”

Just like your typical thieving, entitlement-minded, post Katrina, New Orleans looter.

[Don Corleone]

Redistributing the wealth!

[txrefugee]

The most startling information in this report is that MO has a hair stylist. Wonder what Johnny Wright really does...and is he related to Rev. Wright?

[DAC21]

Each Passenger consumed 9 meals each....just how do you spell Mooochelle?

[TexasCajun]

Mooch is squeezing 8 years of vacations into only 4 years.

[bestintxas]

“Yep, she’s getting them any way she can.”

George “Moving on Up” Jefferson in a pantsuit

[bestintxas]

“Each Passenger consumed 9 meals each....just how do you spell Mooochelle?”

It’s bound to be worse than you think:

They probably ordered several different meals to be brought onboard so the passengers can take their pick.

In other words, most of the food probably wasted.

More taxpayer cash down the toilet.

[New Jersey Realist]

The two girls are listed as “Senior Staff.”

---

Reminiscent of Amy Carter and her thoughts regarding nuclear proliferation. What is it with rat kids in the White House. At least W’s daughters were fun and had a beer once in a while. Chill out rats!

[yorkie]

Trash with [our] Money

[hummingbird]

“All righty now...”

Ace Ventura? I think that's what he said....