Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) continued to spend last quarter despite dismal fundraising, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Between October 1, 2023 and December 31, Sinema spent $796,565 on luxury hotels, new cars and even concert tickets — and $265,521 went to its security costs alone.
Cinema spent nearly $200,000 more than the $594,816 he raised.
Of the money he spent on security, $77,000 went to a new Chevrolet and $1,523 went to event tickets for his security guards — including $490 at Red Rocks Amphitheater — a popular event venue in Colorado.
Sinema buys tickets on days when no concerts are held, obscuring the events he goes to or plans to attend. The car is described as a “van,” also making it impossible to determine the level of luxury involved.
Less than two years ago, Sinema spent $70,000 on a Chevrolet “security detail vehicle” for himself and a second security vehicle for a friend involved with his security, The Post previously reported.
Arizona Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema – a former Democrat – used campaign funds for extraordinary expenses, new filings reveal. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Senator Kyrsten Sinema arrives at the US Capitol in Washington to vote on a multi-billion dollar spending package. Getty Images
If the cars are licensed to him, he will be able to keep all three vehicles even if he leaves DC next year by either losing a re-election bid or choosing not to run.
“He’s Howard Hughes-level paranoid,” a former staffer said of the Cinema’s “crazy” security spending.
He also spent $3,028 on vehicles in London and Paris — campaign experts say such isolated expenses suggest the car was likely for personal use because there were no other combined costs abroad.
Sinema – who has been slammed for lavish spending on wineries, luxury hotels and luxury restaurants – faces a challenging re-election bid if he chooses to run for a second term.
Since he switched his party affiliation to Independent in 2022, he will battle Republican and Democratic challengers for his seat.
Large crowd at Red Rocks Amphitheater for Easter Sunrise Service. Denver Post via Getty Images
Nearly a third of the money he raised, $170,344, was transferred from the Cinema Leadership Fund — a move seen by campaign insiders as an effort to increase his numbers.
Sinema’s spending this past quarter has some Arizona political sources speculating that he intends to use as much as $10 million in his coffers before he leaves office.
Still, Sinema is always ready to raise funds — she’s handing out “save the date weekends with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema” to potential donors, according to invitations reviewed by The Post. The “suggested giving level” for the March event asks donors to give $5,000 to the Cinema campaign and $5,000 to the Cinema PAC.
Although he wooed donors, he failed to hold a single public event for his constituents over the past year, sources said.
“Sen. Sinema’s use of campaign funds for personal expenses appears to raise serious ethical questions. It also raises overall questions about the Senator’s judgment,” Thomas Jones, president of the American Accountability Foundation told The Post.
Kyrsten Sinema at the 2018 Los Angeles Human Rights Campaign Gala Dinner in a dress. Getty Images
“Especially disturbing is the massive campaign spending on safety even as leftists like Sinema make Americans less safe by attacking the police… This is elitist hypocrisy at its worst.”
One notable loser this quarter was former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s sister, Vrindivan Gabbard Bellord, who runs a security firm, TOA, which has received $307,000 over the past several years from Sinema. Cinema has spent an additional $240,000 on food and transportation for Bellord as well.
While Bellord was a federal marshal, his only experience in personal security and his only client so far was Sinema.
Bellord previously posted a photo of a bike rental on his Instagram that he said “thanks to our friend” on the same day Sinema charged his PAC $95 for a bike.
But last quarter, the bulk of Sinema’s security spending went to Kinsaker Security — an executive security firm in Phoenix.
A representative for the Senator did not respond to a request for comment.
Sinema needs to submit signatures from at least 40,000 registered voters by April 8 to get a vote.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
