Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu (Calif.) mocked Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke late Thursday night over reports that the Trump Cabinet secretary spent $139,000 of taxpayer money upgrading the doors in his office.
In a tweet posted just after midnight on Friday, the California Democrat and frequent Trump critic asked House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) for his own “Game of Thrones”-style office upgrades, before remarking that he was joking, as Lieu is not a member of Trump’s Cabinet.
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“Dear @SpeakerRyan: Can I spend $200,000 of taxpayer’s funds to remodel my office based on a #GameOfThrones theme? I would like a heavy iron door and a table made of dragon glass,” Lieu wrote.
“Aw, just kidding, I’m not a @realDonaldTrump Cabinet Secretary,” he added
While Lieu’s comment was in jest, he wouldn’t be the first House member to use taxpayer dollars to fund themed renovations for his congressional office.
In 2015, Republican Rep. Aaron Schock (Ill.) resigned over a storm of controversy after it was revealed he used thousands of dollars for decorations for his office in the theme of the PBS British drama “Downton Abbey.”
Zinke, meanwhile, faces criticism over spending $139,000 on a new set of doors for his office at the Interior Department just months after being told that he was set to be $200,000 over his travel budget for the year, according to CNN.
“Now we know that Ryan Zinke isn’t using just any door when he shuts the American people out. Like Scott Pruitt, Zinke is a walking scandal who believes he can live the life of luxury on the American taxpayer’s dime, and it’s time Trump puts a stop to it,” Sierra Club President Ethan Manuel wrote Thursday.
“We only hope that this $139,000 door doesn’t hit Zinke on his way out.”