Former colleagues steer clear of Tom Price's private jet woes
WASHINGTON -- Some liberal Democrats may have been quick to call for health Secretary Tom Price's resignation on Wednesday amid his private plane rigmarole, but the former congressman's onetime Georgia colleagues are keeping their distance or urging patience as a government watchdog probes Price's official trips.
“I really don’t know the details, so I’ll reserve judgment,” said U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville.
“I don’t really have a comment on that,” U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, said Wednesday. “I think that’s something that they’re investigating now, and we’ll see what happens.”
Their comments came hours after President Donald Trump said he was "not happy" with Price in the aftermath of reports that the former orthopedic surgeon spent roughly $300,000 in taxpayer money flying private jets to official events, and left the door open to firing Price.
“Tommy is the most thrift-conscious person I know,” said former U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, who served with Price in the Georgia Legislature and U.S. Congress before retiring last year. “He and (his wife, Betty Price) live a very humble life, so when I heard about it I was just really surprised.”
Read the whole story on myAJC: Price’s Cabinet post in doubt after flights aboard taxpayer-funded jets
About the Author
Tamar Hallerman is an award-winning senior reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She covers the Fulton County election interference case and co-hosts the Breakdown podcast.
