House Republicans ask Amtrak for information on Biden trips

WASHINGTON (SBG) — Four Republicans on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure sent a letter to Amtrak’s CEO seeking information on trains chartered by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

The letter questions if Biden’s use of Amtrak caused delays in deliveries medical supplies, and asks Amtrak CEO William Flynn for information on how much Biden’s campaign paid for the train and if it disrupted other services.

“We are concerned that the apparent use of a struggling, resource-deprived, publicly-run service for political gain does not serve the best interests of Amtrak or the American taxpayers at this time,” the letter says.

Biden chartered an Amtrak train for his Build Back Better Express Tour through Pennsylvania and Ohio last month after the first presidential debate.

When he was a Senator, Biden was known for commuting to Washington from Delaware by train and has said he’s traveled over 2.1 million miles on Amtrak.

In a statement to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Biden’s campaign called the letter a political stunt.

“Anyone can charter a train with Amtrak. Last time we checked, no one can charter the White House South Lawn for a political convention,” the statement says. “Instead of wasting time on political stunts, congressional Republicans should stop ignoring Donald Trump’s blatant abuses of taxpayer money and government resources.”

President Donald Trump and the Republican party have been criticized for using the White House during the Republican National Convention in August. Democrats have called for a probe into whether that violates the Hatch Act, intended to limit political activity by federal employees in their official capacity.

The law does not apply to the president and vice president, but it would apply to federal employees who set up the event.