U.S. Attorney James Santelle retired in July of 2015 because a federal investigation was looking into possible misuse of his government credit card, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Friday.
The Journal Sentinel had obtained documents that indicated that Santelle had "charged $4,532 on his government credit card for 37 "questionable" transactions—including six for 'purchases (that) were personal in nature.'” The Milwaukee paper reports that “[m]ore than two dozen other transactions were not properly authorized, totaling $4,532." From the Journal Sentinel:
The documents disclosed that a person — whose name was redacted from the report — warned Santelle that he was misusing his credit card.
From September 2011 to October 2013, the person "communicated in person and through email with Santelle 15 times regarding Santelle's improper and unauthorized use of his (federal credit card) and its overdue ... balance," investigators wrote. Eight times the unidentified person told Santelle "that it was against policy to use the (government credit card) for personal use. On each occasion, Santelle verbally acknowledged to (the person) the improper use ... and promised to rectify the situation."
The charges included over $200 at a spa in Chicago where "Santelle told investigators he was trying to buy a gift for a friend and accidentally used his government card, but investigators discovered the purchase was actually 'related to a personal spa service Santelle received and a related product he purchased.'" They also included rental car fees, plane tickets for his nephew's graduation, and $332 of food from the local grocery store.
"When it became clear to me that I had erred and had acted in ways that were inconsistent with the rigorous and appropriate Justice Department rules, I resigned my position," Santelle said in a statement late last week.