After it was exposed that he was using government funds to supplement his opulent lifestyle and a real estate controversy, former Secretary Ryan Zinke left Donald Trump’s cabinet in humiliation and scandal.
Now, as he seeks to make a political comeback, he’s already raising questions by running for Congress from a hotel in Montana.
former trumpian Criminal
Ryan Zinke running for Congress in Montana 🤬 https://t.co/KBvqnemwqy— MTmoderate (@MTmoderate) December 7, 2021
The Washington Post reported in December 2018 that the Interior Department’s inspector general had forwarded one of its inquiries to the Justice Department, resulting in multiple investigations into Zinke’s real estate activities in Montana.
“President Trump announced Zinke’s exit via Twitter on Saturday morning and praised the departing Interior chief,” the Post report said. “Behind the scenes, however, the White House had been pushing Zinke for weeks to resign, administration officials said. Last month, the officials said, Zinke was told he had until the end of the year to leave or be fired.”
Stopped by the place that full-time Californian Ryan Zinke is claiming as his residence so he can run for Congress in Montana…and it’s a hotel.
The king of the grift & most corrupt politician of my lifetime #mtpol #mtnews #mt01 pic.twitter.com/kImbveBa25
— Tom Winter (@WinterForMT) December 6, 2021
Zinke had stated that he would likely run for Congress in 2022, but it was revealed in November 2021 that he spends the majority of his time in Santa Barbara, California, aboard his wife’s boat.
Now he’s himself in yet another scandal, as Zinke’s opponent, Tom Winter, walked over to the address Zinke claimed to be his “home” in the Montana winter snow. The residence turns out to be a hotel.
🤔🧐🤔🧐
'Ryan Zinke reported almost $800,000 in consulting income and fees this year and family real-estate holdings worth between $7.6 million and $32.5 million.' https://t.co/eNSqBDs30T pic.twitter.com/21kH7Gb9uH
— 🏞️ (@hullomat) December 7, 2021
“I think it’s pretty obvious when you show up in March with a really killer tan that you haven’t been here for a long time,” Jennifer Fielder said in Oct.
The Snow Frog Inn is owned by Zinke’s family through an LLC. During a 2013 City Council meeting, those behind the hotel stated that it will contain six guest rooms, a kitchen, a living room space, and a lodge area, according to the ABC affiliate at the time. The Inn, Zinke’s family home, was transformed into a bed and breakfast so he could rent out rooms while visiting Santa Barbara or Washington.
