House Republicans sent a letter to Amtrak CEO William Flynn this week seeking information on former Vice President Joe Biden’s use of the train service throughout his presidential campaign.
Republicans on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., asked Flynn whether Biden drained taxpayer resources when he used the taxpayer-funded service on the campaign trail.
Biden has featured Amtrak trains in at least one campaign ad, and he even chartered a train for his Build Back Better Express Tour through Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The Build Back Better Express Tour was about more than my love for trains — it was about meeting folks along the way and discussing how we can make their lives better.
They are the backbone of America — and I’ll fight for them every day in the White House. pic.twitter.com/HhJHo35DvD
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 21, 2020
“We are concerned that the Biden campaign’s use of Amtrak’s charter train redirected Amtrak’s scarce resources during a time of record losses, employee layoffs, and service cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the GOP congressmen wrote.
“Given that the Biden campaign declined to disclose what it paid to use Amtrak’s resources, we want to ensure that the campaign paid a full, non-discounted rate,” they said.
The letter was also signed by GOP Reps. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Bob Gibbs of Ohio, and Lloyd Smucker of Pennsylvania.
Matt Hill, the Biden campaign’s deputy national press secretary, said in a statement that “anyone can charter a train with Amtrak.”
He then slammed Trump’s campaign for speaking from the White House during the Republican National Convention, which Democrats have tried to claim is a violation of the Hatch Act.
“Last time we checked, no one can charter the White House South Lawn for a political convention,” he said.
“Instead of wasting time on political stunts, congressional Republicans should stop ignoring Donald Trump’s blatant abuses of taxpayer money and government resources,” he added.
