State Department official blasts 'moronic' Washington Post report on Marco Rubio's required military flights
A State Department official blasted The Washington Post on Wednesday, accusing the paper of publishing a "moronic" report that criticized Secretary of State Marco Rubio for using a military aircraft when he is required to do so. The Post published the story, "Flying by pricey military jet, Rubio rarely misses a Florida football game," which noted that the Secretary of State "is required to travel by government plane" when visiting his alma mater, where his son currently plays on the team.The piece characterized Rubio’s trips as a "cost to taxpayers," and reported that his personal flights "have cost the government more than $1.2 million."RUBIO HEADS TO ROME WITH TRUMP’S IRAN CLASH LOOMING OVER POPE, MELONI TALKSSecretary of State Marco Rubio told The Washington Post, "I have and will continue to try and make it to as many events that are important to me personally and to my family as possible." (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)"Like the defense secretary and the directors of the FBI and CIA, Rubio is barred from flying commercially for security reasons and is required, when traveling for personal reasons, to reimburse the government the equivalent of an economy-fare ticket," wrote Post reporters Noah White and Rick Maese."Officials’ reimbursements are rarely made public, but the amounts required cover only a fraction of the true cost, occasionally leading to scrutiny and controversy for Republican and Democratic appointees alike," they added. Rubio defended the trips, telling the paper, "I have and will continue to try and make it to as many events that are important to me personally and to my family as possible."RUBIO TO VISIT ITALY, VATICAN AMID TROOP DRAWDOWN CALL, TENSION WITH TRUMP, POPE LEO: REPORTSSecretary of State Marco Rubio regularly travels to watch his son play football. ( Alex Brandon / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)A government ethics expert told the Post that "Rubio’s travel complies with federal rules," but "raises a quest...