Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) denied violating a ban on state-funded travel to certain states while in Montana.
SEE IT: NEWSOM CUTS AD ENCOURAGING FLORIDIANS TO MOVE TO CALIFORNIA
The Washington Examiner reached out to his office after a report Tuesday evening from CalMatters said Newsom has been vacationing in Montana, one of the banned states.
SCOOP: @GavinNewsom is on vacation in Montana. His office had been loath to disclose the location until now.
Montana is one of 22 states to which CA bans state-funded travel due to anti-LGBTQ+ policies. It’s also likely to institute an abortion ban.
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— Emily Hoeven (@emily_hoeven) July 6, 2022
Erin Mellon, communications director for the governor, told the Washington Examiner the ban does not affect personal travel using personal funds.
“The travel ban applies to expending state funds. The Governor’s travel is not being paid for by the state. This is a personal trip to visit family who live outside the state,” Mellon said.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
A state law passed under Newsom in June 2021 banned state-funded travel to five states, including Montana, over alleged anti-LGBT laws. Currently, the state of California bans state-funded travel to 22 states that “discriminate against LGBTQ+ Americans,” as described by the California attorney general, but does not ban personally funded travel to any state.
