Congressional investigators are probing some lawmakers for possibly misspending government funds meant to pay for overseas travel, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
In March, the Journal reported that lawmakers had used daily cash stipends, meant to cover certain costs of official government travel overseas, to cover unauthorized expenses.
According to Congressional rules, daily travel funds, called a per diem, must be spent on meals, transportation and other travel expenses. But when lawmakers travel, many of their meals and expenses are covered by other people -- such as foreign government officials.
That can leave lawmakers with surplus money -- funds the lawmakers reportedly keep -- or spend on gifts, shopping or to cover their spouses' travel expenses.
The Journal article in March quoted several lawmakers saying they didn't return excess travel funds to the government.
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