“This violation of taxpayer resources and public trust cannot go unanswered. These misspent funds must be returned to reimburse taxpayers and deter future abuses,” the senator said in a statement.
The agency did not respond to a request for comment.
Ms. Lemos could not be reached.
The illegal spending was first highlighted by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). According to the group, the money used for the travel “came out of the small fund for deploying investigators to the scene of industrial explosions, fires, and other accidents.” The group has also called on the agency to recoup the funds.
