Democratic Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is facing scrutiny after a bombshell 7News I-Team investigation revealed her office failed to properly disclose funding sources for a series of lavish trips.
Despite Bowser’s repeated claims that her domestic and international travels are part of economic development efforts, public records raise alarming questions. Bowser’s administration reportedly has no expense filings on record for trips to the Masters Tournament, Las Vegas, Miami, Mar-a-Lago, Dubai, or Doha, even though several of these outings appear to have been paid for by third-party entities, including foreign nations and private organizations, according to 7News.
In one case, the report alleged that Bowser’s office initially claimed the D.C. Chamber of Commerce paid for her participation in the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai. The Chamber flatly denied that claim. Days later, Bowser’s communications director pivoted, saying that the U.S. Conference of Mayors had footed the bill, yet that group declined to confirm any such arrangement and deferred instead to the mayor’s team.
A central issue involves Bowser’s 2023 trip to Doha, which is the capital of Qatar, where documents obtained by 7News through a Freedom of Information Act request show the Qatari government paid for travel costs for Bowser and four staffers, describing it as an “in-kind donation.” Under D.C. law, such donations must be formally submitted, reviewed, and approved before acceptance, but no such process took place.
Bowser’s office sent a letter in February 2025 asking Qatari officials for a breakdown of the $61,930 they covered for her 2023 trip in order to draft a donation agreement. D.C. rules set by her own administration, however, require such agreements to be submitted and approved before accepting any donation, not retroactively.
The mayor’s Chief of Staff, Lindsey Parker, who also took part in the Middle Eastern trip, reportedly submitted a lone receipt showing a $3,500 taxpayer-funded stay at the luxury Atlantis-Palm hotel in Dubai. The rest of the expenses remain undocumented in the District’s public records.
When confronted about her lack of financial transparency, Bowser dodged the issue. Pressed by 7News’ Scott Taylor about her failure to include key trips in financial disclosures and city expense logs, Bowser responded, “We’re talking about the inaugural today, and we’re happy to get back to you on any other questions.”
Bowser has previously faced scrutiny for using a private jet provided by real estate executive and donor Jodie McClean to attend The Masters golf tournament in April 2024, while D.C. grappled with rising violent crime. Although McClean’s company later said it covered the cost and would seek reimbursement, concerns emerged over potential conflicts of interest due to the firm’s business ties with the city.
Bowser’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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