WATERBURY, Conn. (TNND) — Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., spent nearly $13,000 on travel to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and Martha’s Vineyard this summer as her state dealt with devastating flooding, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.
Heavy rain caused deadly flooding across the state in August, killing at least two and requiring more than 100 to be evacuated by search and rescue teams. Gov. Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency as Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., lamented the “gushing torrent of destruction.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Hayes spent $6,384.91 on a stay in Chicago’s glitzy Sheraton Grand while attending the Democratic National Convention, filings show. While there, she shared her condolences with state residents in a video filmed from across the country.
“My heart goes out to all of the people impacted, and I really tried to work with all of the local agencies to make sure that we got the relief that we could,” she lamented. “When I started to get the [storm] updates in the news, I tried to schedule a flight back to Connecticut, but as you know there were delays, cancelations and flights have just been booked.”
Rep. Hayes later traveled to Martha’s Vineyard where she splurged on luxuries, including a $2,000+ stay at a waterfront resort. The representative also spent over $1,700 while dining at upscale eateries that served oysters, caviar and lobster and dropped $1,635 on a rental car.
The expenses, first reported by the New York Post, amount to nearly $13,000 spent while Connecticut endured the flooding. Rep. Hayes’s office did not respond to a request for comment about the expenses when reached via email by The National News Desk.
The congresswoman is being challenged for her House seat by Republican candidate George Logan, who formerly served in the state Senate. Logan’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment about Rep. Hayes’s spending spree.
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