On Saturday, she was at a “delight” occasion vying for the eye of a worldwide pop czarina.
Just a few days later, she received some undesirable consideration from a authorities watchdog, as an alternative.
Democratic Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser is going through down an ethics criticism filed by the Basis for Accountability and Civic Belief (FACT), a nonpartisan watchdog, with the Board of Ethics and Authorities Accountability, according to Fox Information.
The information comes simply days after Bowser was joking round with attendees of an LGBT pageant in D.C. that pop star Shakira ought to re-consider cancelling her tour within the space as a consequence of touring conflicts, as noted by WTOP.
That second of levity gave technique to Tuesday morning’s alarming criticism.
The criticism alleged that Bowser obtained improper advantages, together with accepting unlawful journeys and different hospitality items, throughout various outings as D.C. mayor.
Fox famous that Bowser apparently loved “high-profile journeys to Doha, Qatar, for the 2023 United Nations Local weather Change Convention, the Masters Golf Match in Augusta, Georgia, and journeys to Dubai, Las Vegas, Miami and Mar-a-Lago.”
The complaint from FACT highlights these points, and extra, akin to the truth that the “district has no information” of those journeys.
“Though the general public and press has sought details about these journeys, together with who paid for them and their function, the mayor’s workplace has offered false data or not answered questions,” FACT mentioned in its criticism. “Thus, it’s crucial that the Board instantly act.”
FACT continued: “A basic ethics precept geared toward stopping corruption prohibits our elected officers from accepting bribes, donations, items, kickbacks, or something of worth.
“The place an exception to the rule applies, usually there should be full public disclosure made in a well timed method,” the criticism mentioned.
“Underneath Washington D.C. regulation, authorities officers are forbidden from accepting sure items. Items are broadly outlined to incorporate a ‘gratuity, favor, low cost, leisure, hospitality, mortgage, forbearance, or different merchandise having financial worth.’
“Particularly, items embody journeys (meals, lodging, and transportation) whether or not they’re offered in-kind, bought upfront, or reimbursed after the expense occurred.”
FACT asserted that the Qatar journey was particularly problematic. Bowser was requested about these bills — and gave nothing, initially.
“But, unbelievably, it wasn’t till a reporter’s Freedom of Info Act request in March 2025 that this data was publicly revealed—extra particularly that Qatar paid greater than $61,930 for the journey the mayor’s workplace was now making an attempt to retroactively describe as an ‘in-kind donation,’” FACT claimed.
However the journeys are simply the tip of the iceberg on the subject of Bowser’s obvious discretionary points.
“It’s not merely the Qatar journey, however a troubling sample from Mar-A-Lago to Doha to Augusta Nationwide – the District has no report of who paid for these journeys or what public function they served, if there was one in any respect,” Kendra Arnold, government director of FACT, advised Fox. “The ethics guidelines exist to guard in opposition to corruption, and when they’re ignored, the general public’s belief erodes.
“I urge the Board to analyze and implement the regulation directly.”
This text appeared initially on The Western Journal.
