The investigation will focus on taxpayer-funded security upgrades at the governor’s private residence, as well as administrative travel on charter flights.
Republicans on the state Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee voted on Tuesday to authorize a probe into Governor Shapiro’s use of taxpayer dollars.
The probe will focus on taxpayer-funded security upgrades at the governor’s private residence in Montgomery County, as well as administrative travel on charter flights.
Committee Chair Senator Jarrett Coleman of Lehigh County said requests sent to the Shapiro administration dating back to August yielded only partial answers.
“No one disputes that the governor should have reasonable and appropriate protection, or that the governor should have access to transportation for reasonable and appropriate travel associated with his role,” said Coleman.
“But no administration, Republican or Democrat, should be allowed to operate in the shadows and refuse to provide basic details about their decisions when millions of taxpayer dollars are being involved and precedent is being set.”
The governor made substantial security upgrades to his private home following an arson attack on the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg while he and his family slept inside.
A report found that nearly $1.1 million was allocated to Shapiro’s private residence to fund the security upgrades. Two of Tuesday’s subpoenas relate to the private home in Montgomery County.
One of the subpoenas, to the Pennsylvania State Police, requests a copy of a May security assessment. It also requests communications detailing construction and security work at both the governor’s private home and a neighboring property.
The subpoena directs the Pennsylvania State Police to turn in body camera footage from officers who visited either of Shapiro’s properties between September 20 and November 19 of this year.
The other subpoena, to Abington Township where the governor’s private home is located, requests permits and zoning hearing transcripts related to the property and communication records.
The final subpoena from Tuesday is related to charter flights taken by the governor. He and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis have used State Police aircrafts, which are not required to post flight logs and are funded by taxpayer dollars.
The plane traditionally used by governors and operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation requires that flight logs be posted.
The subpoena itself is focused on flights taken by the governor with Let’s Go Air, Inc. that he took when State Police planes were undergoing maintenance. Records revealed that the flight information did not include any passenger lists.
After Tuesday’s vote, Coleman told reporters that the administration had provided “conflictory” reports in regards to flight manifests, and said that “passengers were changing after the fact.”
“We’re really not confident they can provide the information accurately to us. We’re just going to the source.”
“Taxpayers deserve answers,” Coleman said.
