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Trendy Fashion Buys Reimbursed as "Office Supplies" to RNC Finance Officials

For one Republican National Committee official, a spin through a trendy clothing boutique racked up hundreds in "office supplies," all billed to party donors. And there's more.

At the Republican National Committee, the term "office supplies" seems to have taken on a whole new meaning. If you take its recent filings with the Federal Election Commission at face value, the RNC, it seems, requires thousands of dollars worth of pricey clothing and more than a splash of booze to run its office.

Listed on the report in the category of "office supplies" are purchases from a New England winery and a Capitol Hill liquor store, as well as more than $3,800 from a Florida clothing store. The category of "meals" also seems to extend to the sartorial, with a $450 purchase from a high-end Manhattan boutique -- one that has no restaurant or take-out shop on the premises -- falling into that category, as listed on the RNC's reports to the FEC. That purchase, as well as one for more than $500 from the Florida clothing store, are attributed to RNC Deputy Finance Director Debbie LeHardy, who, according to the report, was reimbursed for them.

LeHardy also received reimbursement for more than $2,800 in "tips" between December 2009 and February 2010, according to the reports.

Even before news broke this week that the Republican National Committee spent nearly $2,000 at a bondage-themed Hollywood strip bar, RNC Chairman Michael Steele had been sharply criticized for extravagant spending. AlterNet's review of RNC campaign finance records suggests a pattern of reporting irregularities within an institutional culture of over-the-top extravagance.

In February, as the RNC's finance chiefs gathered in Boca Grande, Florida, for their Finance Leadership Meeting -- the meeting at which the RNC's "fear" strategy for donors was revealed in a telling PowerPoint presentation -- the RNC made purchases totaling $3817 at Fugate's. On its report, the RNC labels the purchase as "office supplies," but Fugate's general manager Nancy Blank says her store doesn't sell office supplies. Fugate's sells men's and women's clothing and accessories, Blank told AlterNet. "We're a specialty department store," she said.

Of that total LeHardy, the RNC deputy finance director, received direct reimbursement for $513. The rest was a separate purchase made the next day, and billed to an RNC American Express account. The name of the AmEx cardholder is not listed on the FEC report. My calls for comment to the RNC and to LeHardy were not returned as of press time.

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What types of products and services were included in February’s spending?

$17,000 in private jet travel
$13,000 in limousines
$9,000 in Beverly Hills Hotel
$6,600 at Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons
$15,000 at the W Hotel in Washington

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