The team of the US vice-president JD Vance would have raised the water level of an Ohio river to accommodate a boat trip provided during their holidays for their birthday.
According to data obtained by The Guardianthe water level of the Little Miami River climbed more than two meters on August 2, which agrees with the presence of Mr. Vance in the sector on the occasion of his 41e Birthday, according to photos shared on his social media.
The English media also reports that the water level in Lake Caesar Creek has dropped at the same time which would agree with an adjustment of the water level for this river.
This event raises questions regarding the use by the American vice-president of public infrastructure for his personal leisure.
According to the body of the American army engineering, a request has been received in order to readjust the water level so that secret service agents can circulate on the river safely.
Spokesman Gene Pawlik told The Guardian that the request for adjustment “satisfied all the necessary criteria and did not require deviation from the usual protocols”.
However, these water level changes can be announced to the general public when they sail more easily.
This has not been communicated.
An ex-member of the special ethics of the White House Ethics, Norm Eisen, who was in office during the mandate of Barack Obama, indicates that he would never have authorized such a request.
“When I was in office, I had several wacky requests, but I never received that of increasing the level of a watercourse to allow an elected official to go kayaking,” he said, in an interview with the English media.
“Although there could have been any real security issues and justifications concerning this request, my answer would have been” I don’t care, “he added. Government resources should not be used in this way. I would never have allowed it. “
Although there is nothing that could prove that this request from Mr. Vance’s team is illegal, the former lawyer for the ethics of the administration of George W. Bush, Richard Painter, qualifies the situation as “quite scandalous”.
The vice-president did not follow up on the questions sent by The Guardian on this subject.
