California’s insurance commissioner has been accused of taking extravagant trips on the taxpayers’ dime.
Newsweek and other outlets, citing a report from local media in San Francisco, explained that Ricardo Lara “spent thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money on trips bearing little relation to the insurance industry.”
Insurance Business added that Lara “embarked on at least 48 trips since 2019, with unclear or undocumented business justifications for many of them.”
“Records obtained show taxpayers covered significant expenses, including five-star hotels, luxury transportation, and upgraded flights,” Insurance Business detailed.
Lara’s office did not immediately respond to KTLA’s request for comment, and this story will be updated when a response is received, but officials have defended Lara’s actions.
Deputy Commissioner Michael Soller told Newsweek that Lara’s trips produced “tangible results” in preparing for climate change, fighting anti-LGBTQ bias and pushing for “health insurance equality.”
He also said no laws were broken.
“For all Department-funded travel, we comply with FPPC [California Fair Political Practices Commission] rules and reporting requirements,” he said.