Report: Trump VA chief David Shulkin misused taxpayer money to fly wife to Europe

Veterans Affairs chief David Shulkin improperly used taxpayer money to fly his wife to Europe and accepted tickets to Wimbledon, according to an internal watchdog investigation.

The agency's inspector general report also questions Shulkin's decision to direct agency staff on official time to arrange his personal sightseeing activities during the July trip to England and Denmark.

Shulkin's chief of staff doctored an email and made false statements about the trip — making it appear as if Shulkin was receiving an award from the Danish government. The fake award was used to justify paying for his wife's travels.

The lone Obama era holdover also improperly accepted a gift of tickets to a Wimbledon tennis match worth thousands of dollars, the investigation found.

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Shulkin, one of President Trump's favorite cabinet members, is the latest official to be caught misusing government travel.

Shulkin's lawyers say he did nothing improper. A department spokesman says he "travels far less than any recent VA secretary" and takes no private jets.

A number of Trump administration officials have raised red flags over their travel habits.

Former health secretary Tom Price stepped down in September after it was revealed that he had spent at least $400,000 in taxpayer funds on chartered flights.

Interior secretary Ryan Zinke has apparently failed to keep comprehensive records since taking office — and in some cases failed to log his travels altogether, a memo issued by the agency's deputy inspector general in November said.

He also racked up more than $14,000 in flights on government helicopters, according to travel logs uncovered late last year by Politico.

The House Oversight Committee announced last year that it was probing Price and other Trump officials use of taxpayer-funded private planes.

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Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are also being looked at for their travel tabs as well.

Pruitt has defended his lavish flights by citing security threats.

He has also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on elaborate security measures such as 24-hour guards and biometric office locks due to his fears for his life.

With News Wire Services