GOP demands California investigates high-speed rail payouts

(The Center Square) – In a letter released early Tuesday, Republican legislators called for California Attorney General Rob Bonta to investigate the High-Speed Rail Authority over allegations of improper authorizations of travel expenditures for contractors.

The letter from California Republicans to Bonta came a week after the High-Speed Rail Office of the Inspector General released a report substantiating allegations of more than $1 million being expensed for contractors’ travel costs. These included ride shares to the gym, escape rooms and cigar lounges; expenditures for a contractor’s private jet during a flight from Washington, D.C. to California and travel expenses for vague, unspecified meetings, according to the report.