Missouri U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, has sold a private plane she co-owns with her husband, months after her use of it for official business and failure to pay back taxes created a political headache.
“Claire said she would sell the plane and did. True to her word as always,” McCaskill spokesman Trevor Kincaid said in a statement.
He said the plane was sold to Northeast Montana Stat Air Ambulance Co-Operative for $1.9 million.
The Missouri Democrat faced scrutiny earlier this year after reports emerged that she had used the plane in connection to political events. Ms. McCaskill and her husband, a wealthy St. Louis area developer, own the plane with other investors. The Missouri Democrat had used the plan for official Senate travel and sought public reimbursement, which is permitted under Senate rules.
“I have convinced my husband to sell the damn plane. I will never set foot on the plane again,” the Missouri Democrat said in a statement at the time.
Republicans filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee, which was recently dismissed, however, the issue is likely to factor in as part of the upcoming 2012 election.
