Two Senate aides were demoted after two government jets were used to transport senators to the funeral of former Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi this year.
Aides to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, who took over leadership of the panel from Cochran, who died May 30, booked a government jet through the Coast Guard to take senators to the funeral, according to Politico.
But the Shelby aides allowed only Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, on the flight and took additional seats for themselves. When aides Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, asked for a seat for their boss, they were told the flight was full.
Another jet was booked through the Navy to fly Wicker and other senators to the funeral, costing taxpayers thousands of dollars. Senate GOP leaders later questioned why two private jets were needed.
A top Shelby staffer gave the two aides involved in arranging the trip the choice of quitting or taking a demotion. They chose the latter.
