The Republican National Committee announced last night that it has fired an unnamed staffer involved in an RNC-funded excursion to Voyeur West Hollywood, a bondage-themed nightclub that often features topless dancers. The RNC did not release the staffer’s name, nor did it say exactly how Erik Brown, a California Republican operative who was reimbursed for the $2,000 bill, was involved.
In the statement, spokesman Doug Heye said the RNC has dealt with the incident: “First, as reported, the expenditure in question will be recouped by the RNC. Second, appropriate personnel actions have been taken and accounting and reimbursement processes are being revised to ensure that such an action cannot reoccur.”
“It is unfortunate that a loyal GOP donor who has recruited other donors became involved in this incident while merely trying to help what turned out to be the improper request of a staffer who is no longer with the committee,” Heye went on. He did not identify the donor or the staffer, and has not responded to a request for more information.
Erik Brown of Orange, Calif., is the person who was reimbursed the nearly $2,000 from the RNC for the Voyeur bill, according to FEC reports. Brown runs a direct mail service and is the political director for the Orange County Young Republicans. He’s donated to the Republican Party of California, and he does not show up on the RNC’s payroll over the last few months.
Brown has not responded to calls and emails for comment.
One California blog, Red County, reports that Brown isn’t the staffer. Instead, they say, Brown paid the bill (and submitted it to the RNC as an expense) after a staffer’s credit card was declined, according to anonymous sources.
The blog also reports that the excursion took place after a recruiting event for the RNC Young Eagles at the Beverly Hills hotel.
Brown’s connection to the RNC is still unclear, although his firm has done work for the campaigns of Chuck DeVore and Steve Poizner. And a Democratic source forwards a shot of Brown’s Facebook page, which shows a status update from January which reads, “Working on a great project for the RNC this week. More exciting stuff ahead …”
DeVore said yesterday that their business relationship with Brown ended weeks ago.
The FEC reports also reveal that the RNC spent lavishly at hotels and more than $17,000 on private airfare in the month of February.
