Republican Leader Macedo Calls for Firing
SACRAMENTO— After an investigation finding more than half a million dollars in illegal travel expenses, coupled with a demonstrated pattern of misusing taxpayer dollars and abusing public trust, Assembly Republican Leader Alexandra M. Macedo, R-Tulare, calls for the immediate termination of the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s CEO Ian Choudri.
“At a time when California families face unbearable financial pressures to cover essential household needs, including rent, utilities, and transportation, the routine approval of illegal consultant expenses represents a severe breach of fiduciary responsibility,” said Leader Macedo. “Mr. Choudri’s brazen disregard for the law undermines the fundamental integrity of our state government.”
Choudri, who makes $541,688 a year—more than double the Governor’s salary—has fostered a culture of disregard for state law, persistent financial mismanagement, lack of oversight and administrative abuses.
The Office of the Inspector General’s September 15 report documented first-class flights reimbursed without justification and a premium-fare reimbursement for a consultant who flew his private plane. The Authority also paid for luxury rides to a cigar lounge, a nightclub, gyms and an escape room.
The investigation also found that Authority staff’s efforts to enforce travel rules were “apparently resisted or overridden.” One consultant said he did not need to justify travel requested by the CEO, even though investigators said the CEO had no authority to waive those requirements.
“Taxpayers deserve fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability when it comes to their hard-earned money,” Macedo stated in her letter to the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Read Leader Macedo’s letter to the High-Speed Rail Authority Board HERE