Card Castle: Power, Fear, Retaliation, and the House That Bowser Built

We, the embattled citizens of the District of Columbia are exhausted by Mayor Bowser's relentless, mafia-like rule. Despite her demands for the highest standards, she brazenly ignores principles of transparency and accountability. We refuse to accept such blatant corruption any longer - we demand genuine, unwavering leadership.

While Congress readily discusses the scourge of crime in DC, it conveniently overlooks the entrenched web of governmental corruption and white-collar criminality at the highest levels.

We residents no longer trust the District of Colulmbia so-called independent oversight mechanisms such as the Office of Inspector General, DC Attorney General and DC Board of Ethics and Governmental Accountability. We believe all are loyal to fear the mayors pervasive culture of retaliation.

Amongst the many scandals, Mayor Bowser is most recently facing mounting scrutiny over a series of international and domestic trips, with investigative journalist Scott Taylor and the 7News I-Team uncovering a pattern of allegedly unethical practices, possible violations of D.C. law, and a lack of transparency that could have federal implications.

Key Findings Uncovered by Scott Taylor

1. Unreported and Lavish Travel Expenses

• Scott Taylor’s investigation revealed that Mayor Bowser and her staff took multiple expensive trips—including to Dubai, Miami, Las Vegas, and the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia—without filing required travel expense records or providing receipts for flights, hotels, or meals.

• A 2023 trip to Dubai for the United Nations Climate Conference was paid for by the government of Qatar, which covered $61,930 in expenses for Bowser and four staff members. This payment was classified as an “in-kind donation,” but there is no record of a legally required Donation Agreement between D.C. and Qatar.

• For other trips, such as to the Masters Tournament, Bowser accepted travel on a private jet arranged by Jodie McLean, CEO of the real estate developer EDENS, a company with significant business interests in D.C. and a history of donating to Bowser’s campaigns

2. Conflicting and False Explanations

• The mayor’s office gave multiple, conflicting explanations about who paid for these trips. Initially, staff claimed the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, or the U.S. Conference of Mayors paid for the Dubai trip, but FOIA requests proved these statements false.

• Despite repeated requests from Scott Taylor and his team, Bowser’s office has not provided documentation or clear answers regarding the true sources of funding or the breakdown of travel expenses.

3. Potential Violations of D.C. Code and Ethics Laws

• D.C. law requires public officials to disclose gifts and travel expenses and prohibits accepting gifts above certain values from individuals or entities with business before the city. The lack of disclosure and acceptance of travel from business donors and foreign governments potentially violates these statutes.

• If a gift is not allowed under the D.C. Code, the official can face fines up to $5,000 per violation or three times the value of the gift.

• Ethics experts have called Bowser’s actions “an embarrassment and unethical,” pointing to the secrecy and lack of transparency as red flags for possible conflicts of interest and violations of public trust.

4. Federal Investigation Context

• The travel scandal unfolds against a backdrop of broader federal scrutiny of Bowser’s administration. Since 2023, there have been four FBI investigations into D.C. government corruption, with three resulting in formal charges and one conviction. While these probes primarily focus on bribery and contract steering schemes within city departments, they highlight a pattern of alleged misconduct and lax oversight during Bowser’s tenure.

• The lack of transparency and possible legal violations in Bowser’s travel practices could attract further federal attention, especially given the involvement of foreign governments and major D.C. business interests.

Finally, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s travel practices, as investigated by Scott Taylor, reveal a pattern of undisclosed, lavish trips funded by foreign governments and business donors, a lack of required documentation, and conflicting explanations from her office. These actions raise serious questions about compliance with D.C. ethics laws and transparency requirements and may expose Bowser to further legal and potentially federal consequences as the investigations continue.

The District of Columbia's independent watchdog agencies, such as the Office of Inspector General, DC Attorney General, and DC Board of Ethics and Governmental Oversight, have all fallen victim to Mayor Bowser's relentless campaign of intimidation and retaliation. Even our elected Democratic representatives have chosen to ignore this blatant abuse of power, willfully turning a blind eye to the corruption that plagues our city.

Therefore, we urgently call on the Congressional Oversight Committee to intervene immediately and rescue the 700,000 DC residents from the ongoing humiliation and disgrace inflicted by the Bowser administration.

Respectfully,