The oversight committee of the U.S. Department of Transportation has concluded Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s campaign has exhibited a “disturbing pattern” of travel “safety failures,” including inadequate documentations of security protocols, not conducting background checks on staff and avoiding federal laws governing motor vehicle safety.
In a report released Wednesday, the Office of Inspector General accused the campaign of “failing to effectively oversee its travel operations.”
The report found that Buttigieg’s campaign did not adequately document security protocols, did not conduct background checks on staff, did not adequately regulate vital components of its vehicles such as tires, and did not properly adhere to federal laws governing motor vehicle safety.
The report also revealed other shortcomings, such as the campaign’s failure to obtain commercial insurance policies for high-mileage vehicles. Furthermore, the campaign allowed a few staff members to operate their own vehicles without itinerary documentation or background checks.
In response, the campaign provided the Inspector General’s office with additional documents and said it had implemented the required changes to ensure travel safety. The campaign said it has been working to improve oversight and compliance, and that it “stands by its commitment to safety.”
