RALEIGH (AP) ó North Carolina’s top auditor says first lady Mary Easley’s overseas travel incurred “unreasonable and excessive expenses” paid for by taxpayers.
State Auditor Les Merritt said Thursday morning that some purchases, including alcohol, were against state policy. He also questioned other expenses such as a $332 caviar cocktail, a ballet outing costing $1,170, and a private chauffeur with a Mercedes SUV that cost $27,013 over eight days.
Merritt said much of the spending did not meet the standard of a “prudent” public servant traveling at taxpayer expense.
Easley’s trips to France, Russia and Estonia were billed in part as an effort to attract foreign art exhibits to the state.