Mnuchin and Wife Viewed Eclipse From Fort Knox Roof

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and his wife, Louise Linton, watched the eclipse from the roof of Fort Knox, prompting questions over the use of taxpayer funds.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, is seeking "copies of all records concerning authorization for and the costs of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's use of a government plane to travel to Lexington, Kentucky on Monday, Aug. 21, accompanied by his wife Louise Linton." 

The group argues that although Mnuchin "purportedly" traveled to Kentucky for a luncheon, the trip "seems to have been planned around the solar eclipse and to enable the secretary to secure a viewpoint in the path of the eclipse's totality."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell posted a photo of himself and Mnuchin at the U.S. Bullion Repository with a caption saying, "we viewed the #solareclipse from the rooftop today."

A spokesman for McConnell told The Washington Post that the view from Fort Knox was a bonus, adding that "Kentucky was the best place to see it, hands down."

CREW spokesman Jordan Libowitz told the Post, "We're not sure about the motive for the trip, but we filed the [Freedom of Information Act request] to get more information about it."

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., filed his own request to the Treasury's general counsel asking for a "detailed explanation" of Mnuchin's trip.

An anonymous Treasury representative told the paper that the secretary "is reimbursing the government for Mrs. Linton's travel, as is long-standing policy regarding civilians on military aircraft."

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