Private Jets, Missing Contracts, and Troubling Parallels to Campaign Travel

Executive Summary

Over a troubling 13-month period, the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James spent a staggering $41,807 of taxpayer money on private jet travel. These flights were booked through a vendor utilized exclusively by James’ office—one that other New York State agencies have not engaged with for over a decade. Alarmingly, this arrangement lacks visible contracts, passenger records, or travel justifications within public databases. Not only are there concerns over how this expenditure was justified, but several trips align closely with known campaign events, and there are no recorded reimbursements in state or campaign records.

A Mystery in the Skies

Imagine a private jet taking off with no public schedule. No contract identifiers showing up in the State Comptroller’s public transparency portal. Apart from payments recorded as mere line items, little else is known. Taxpayers are footing the bill for flights whose details remain largely undisclosed.

From November 2020 through December 2021, Attorney General James’ office facilitated six private charter flights totaling $41,807.80 through Venture Jets, a Pennsylvania-based charter company specializing in luxury aviation solutions. This method of travel could easily fund significant legal aid programs or strengthen consumer protection divisions, yet it appears to have been misallocated.

Documented Overlaps

A close inspection reveals worrying overlaps between state-funded flights and campaign activities.

Martha’s Vineyard Connection

On August 10, 2021, amid public outcry over the fallout from the Cuomo harassment report, a $7,015.45 payment was made to Venture Jets. Simultaneously, James’ campaign spent $2,000 renting a house in Martha’s Vineyard. Public records confirm her presence at events during this time, raising questions about the necessity of the private flight.

SOMOS Conference Connection

On November 8, 2021, payments totaling over $13,000 were made to Venture Jets. This timing coincided with the SOMOS conference in Puerto Rico, a networking event where James was documented actively campaigning. While she positioned herself publicly to focus solely on issues, her actions often aligned seamlessly with her campaign goals.

The Money Trail

The payments to Venture Jets commenced shortly after the 2020 presidential election and ramped up significantly during 2021 as James considered her political future. The relationship between her office and this aircraft vendor appears unique; no other agency has utilized their services in the last decade, which raises questions about preferential treatment and adherence to state procurement guidelines.

Shutdown of Transparency

So, what makes Venture Jets the exclusive vendor for James’ office? Our review of state expenditure records reveals that no other New York State agency has engaged this vendor for charter services. This predicament adds layers to an already concerning issue—was there a competitive bidding process? Why this vendor and not others?

What’s Missing from Public View

The lack of documentation surrounding these flights is what should concern every New Yorker. While payments exist in the state’s financial system, there are no associated travel authorizations, no procurement records, and no contract identifiers visible in the Comptroller’s public transparency portal.

Charter flights, often being paid either in advance or on the day of service, leave behind a trail of records that should normally be detectable. The absence of contract IDs, competitive bidding documentation, and justifications raises serious concerns about whether state procedures were overlooked or ignored entirely.

Following the Money

The troubling pattern continues into James’ campaign finances, where a $12,049 charge for “transportation” to Venture Jets was found in her campaign finance reports. This transaction connects both her public office and political activities, contributing to the perception of impropriety. While sharing a vendor isn’t inherently wrong, when that vendor is exclusively used by one official, it casts suspicion on the relationship and whether ethical boundaries were maintained.

Potential Misuse of Public Funds

The financial implications of these flights are stark. The nearly $42,000 spent on luxury private flights could have bolstered various services critical to the public. The availability of commercial airline options at a significantly lower cost adds an even greater layer of concern, suggesting fiscal negligence.

Environmental Hypocrisy

Compounding these concerns is the contradiction between AG James’ office’s climate change initiatives—encouraging New Yorkers to minimize air travel to reduce environmental impact—and her own reliance on private jet travel. This raises significant ethical questions about the necessity and appropriateness of such extravagant arrangements in contrast to her public stance.

The Questions That Demand Answers

With so many unresolved issues, the following questions arise:

• If the flights weren’t for official business, what were they for?
• If they were, why are the contracts absent from the Comptroller’s portal?
• Were the state funds reimbursed for flights connected to campaign-related activities?
• What justifies the need for six private charter flights when commercial options were available?
• Why were two separate payments made on the same day for the November 8, 2021 travel?

The urgency for clarity from AG James is apparent. The office should operate transparently, especially when it interlinks with public resources at such a high cost.

The Guardian Role

As New York’s top legal officer and arbiter of public interest, it is James’ duty to uphold transparency and accountability. When her office operates without clear documentation for state-funded flights, it undermines the values it’s tasked with safeguarding.

The demand isn’t merely for scrutiny—it’s for transparency and accountability. Comprehensive Freedom of Information Law requests have been submitted, aimed at uncovering the full scope of these flights: passenger manifests, travel records, and justifications must be disclosed to ensure the public trust is upheld.

In a government that exists for the people and by the people, there should be no hidden flights funded by taxpayer dollars.