Royce White, a former NBA player and Republican candidate for Senate in Minnesota, has come under fire after a Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing showed his 2022 campaign spent over $1,000 at a strip club in Miami. The Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint over the spending, which also included a water park trip, fitness centre dues, and large cash disbursements.
In an interview with progressive host David Pakman, White initially claimed the FEC filing was an error, then argued that staffers visited the Gold Rush Cabaret solely to buy food. He said, "They sell food at a strip club, don't they?" Pakman pressed White repeatedly, calling his explanation a lie.
The Gold Rush Cabaret's menu lists its most expensive item at $25, making the $1,200 tab difficult to justify as a meal expense. FEC guidelines typically do not allow alcoholic beverages as part of staff meal expenses.
White, endorsed by the Minnesota Republican Party and Steve Bannon, is vying for the nomination to challenge Senator Amy Klobuchar. However, his campaign spending controversy may hinder his bid, as polls show Klobuchar far ahead of any Republican challenger.
