Report: Inspector general launches second investigation into Mnuchin travel habits

CNN is reporting that the Treasury’s inspector general has launched a second investigation into Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s travel habits after learning of inaccurate information provided by the department, but Treasury says that only more information has been requested.

An official told CNNMoney that the Treasury did not provide an accurate account of Mnuchin’s Aug. 15 trip to New York to meet with President Trump, which cost taxpayers an estimated $25,000.

The information provided to the inspector general’s office said that Mnuchin traveled from Andrews Air Force base to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on a military jet. In fact, the Treasury secretary traveled on a commercial flight from D.C. to New York. ABC reported in September that the secretary had flown commercial to New York.

A Treasury spokesperson denied Wednesday that the inspector general has opened a second review of Mnuchin’s travel, but said it has asked for more documentation about the secretary’s commercial flight to New York. 

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The spokesperson said the agency intends to cooperate with the request “promptly.”

The inspector general launched its first investigation into Mnuchin’s private flights in September. That probe focuses on a flight on a government plane that Mnuchin and his wife took in August to Kentucky that coincided with the solar eclipse.

Several other Trump administration officials are under scrutiny for similar issues. Tom Price resigned from his post as Health and Human Services secretary in response to reports about his use of government funds for private flights.

—Updated at 1:20 p.m.