Dem congresswoman Chellie Pingree flies world in business class while telling voters to save planet by wearing hand-me-down clothes READ MORE: Dem lawmaker called for more migrants to be bused into her state By Joe Hutchison For Dailymail.Com Published: 18:49, 6 August 2024 | Updated: 18:50, 6 August 2024 e-mail View comments A Maine congresswoman who told Americans to wear hand-me-downs to fight climate change has clocked in over 100,000 miles traveling the globe in the lap of luxury. Chellie Pingree, 69, expensed over $100,000 in business class flights, luxury hotels and dining while her and her team clocked in over 130,000 miles around the globe.
According to an investigation by the Maine Wire , Pingree, who prides herself on fighting climate change , was responsible for roughly 15.98 metric tons of emissions. The outlet uncovered that since 2016, 21 taxpayer-funded trips by air across the globe have related to her work as a Congresswoman.
Despite recently telling Americans to wear hand-me-downs in a social media video, Pingree jetted to locations including Japan , Norway, Italy and Germany . She's no stranger to private jets either, despite once railing against lawmakers who used the luxury and environmentally-unfriendly means of travel. The outlet calculated the figure based on the number of flights, destinations and the emissions of the different planes.
In total she racked up 132,255 miles in flights. The outlet uncovered that since 2016, 21 taxpayer-funded trips by air across the globe have related to her work as a Congresswoman. She is seen here in June of this month View this post on Instagram A post shared by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (@chelliepingree) The outlet added that the total amount emitted would be much higher for when Pingree flew on private jets, with data for such flights not available.
In 2017 and in 2023 Pingree traveled to Norway at a total cost of $17,707, both flights were paid for by the Aspen Institute. The institute paid a further $6,458 for travel, lodging and food for her and her daughter Hannah, who is a staffer in the administration of Governor Janet Mills. According to documents, the duo both traveled business class on the round-trip flights.
She wrote in her disclosure that: 'This trip will inform Rep. Pingree’s continued work on the Appropriations Committee around policy issues related to energy and the environment. 'Norway is at the forefront of innovative energy strategies and meeting there facilitates the participation of Norwegian scholars and experts to provide an in-depth analysis of their energy policies.
' According to an itinerary seen by the outlet, speakers included the CEO of a major Norwegian oil and energy company and the Board Chairman of Shell Oil. The trip had been partially covered by the Henry Luce, Democracy Fund, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and MacArthur foundations. The Democracy Fund is backed by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, who is known for his progressive politics and has been active with far-left groups in Maine politics.
The other trip to the Scandinavian country had been justified necessary due to her role as Chair of the Appropriations Interior & Environment Subcommittee. Her disclosure form said: ' Rep. Pingree is especially interested in sustainable, clean-energy innovations a while [sic] ensuring access.
' She traveled on business class for the 7,764 mile round trip. In 2017 and in 2023 Pingree traveled to Norway at a total cost of $17,707, both flights were paid for by the Aspen Institute While staying in Oslo, she stayed at the city's $215 per night Grand Hotel, having cited security as the reason for the expensive hotel. In February 2020, just a month before the world came grinding to halt due to Covid, Pingree traveled around Japan for a week.
Her trip, which came to $13,623, was funded by the US Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC). The group paid for her to spend a week traveling across Japan to meet with officials after flying into the country in business class. She also spent time 'appreciating' Japanese culture which included a tea ceremony, trips to temples and a whiskey distillery.
Her disclosure form seemed to fess up to the tour of Japan being a personal jolly, saying she 'she is interested in Japan and issues related to U.S.-Japan relations'.
During her time in Kyoto she shared at the Hyatt Regency, at a cost of $306 per night While staying in Oslo, she stayed at the city's $215 per night Grand Hotel, seen here, having cited security as the reason for the expensive hotel She visited Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, taking a chartered bus to various different locations. During her time in Kyoto she shared at the Hyatt Regency, at a cost of $306 per night. While in Tokyo, she stayed at the five-star Hotel New Otani, costing $278 per night, according to the documents.
Pingree said that both hotels had been selected due to their close proximity to meetings, access to transport and their comfort. While during a trip to Bellagio, Italy, in 2023 she stayed at the $299 per night Bellagio Center. Like her trip to Norway, the trip to Bellagio was paid for by the Apsen Institute and received funding from the Rockefeller Center, her total expense was $7,324.
Across all her various trips since 2016, she spent $106,680 on travel, food and lodging, with tabs being picked up by various organizations mentioned. The total emission calculated for her work trips do not account for her total carbon emissions. While in Tokyo, she stayed at the five-star Hotel New Otani, seen here, costing $278 per night, according to the documents Records show she also chartered ground transportation, instead of using transit systems when traveling.
Pingree has long been associated with her strong views on climate change, and has frequently pushed for renewable energy subsidies, like solar panels and wind farms. Recently she even shared a video of herself to her socials speaking of her worries of what the world will be like for her children and seven grandchildren. But after sharing the video to her social media on Wednesday afternoon, Pingree was labelled a 'hypocrite' after having previously traveled on a private jet.
Pingree was caught on camera disembarking the jet of her then husband and hedge fund manager S. Donald Sussman in 2010. In the footage, Pingree disembarked from the airplane onto a red carpet after the plane touched down at Portland airport in Maine.
At the time of the incident, Pingree said that criticism of her use of the corporate jet was politically motivated. She told the Portland Press Herald at the time that she had checked the ethics rules to make sure that taking flights on Sussman's jet was permissible. Pingree was recently labelled a 'hypocrite' after having previously traveled on a private jet, seen here Pingree was caught on camera disembarking the jet of her then husband and hedge fund manager S.
Donald Sussman in 2010. The pair are seen here in 2011 Criticism was drawn largely because of testimony she gave in 2006 when she was head of lobbying farm Common Cause, that was critical about legislators use of private aircraft. According to the Bangor Daily News , she said: 'Most Americans never have and never will fly on a chartered jet, much less a fancy corporate jet complete with wet bar and leather couches.
'So when members of Congress constantly fly around on corporate jets and pay only the cost of a commercial ticket, it contributes to the corrosive public perception that members of Congress are more like the fat cats of Wall Street than they are like the rest of us.' Pingree had previously made headlines after she called for less border security and advocated for migrants to be bussed to Maine , claiming there aren't enough locals to fill jobs there. DailyMail.
com has approached Pingree for comment. Italy Japan Share or comment on this article: Dem congresswoman Chellie Pingree flies world in business class while telling voters to save planet by wearing hand-me-down clothes e-mail Add comment.
