[ad_1]
The United States government paid for Ambassador Scott Brown and his wife to fly domestically to New Zealand on a private jet to avoid going into quarantine at the border, documents show.
Senator Brown answers questions to a group of boys before playing basketball. Source: Getty
Almost everyone returning to New Zealand must spend 14 days in an army-guarded hotel as part of the nation’s strict strategy to avoid coronavirus.
But the Browns were able to use their special status as diplomats to avoid staying in a hotel and instead isolated themselves at their home in Wellington.
The special treatment from the Browns has upset many New Zealanders. Documents released to The Associated Press under official reporting laws show the case was discussed by top officials and lawmakers and was not resolved until days before his return.
The Browns returned to New Zealand in late August after spending a month in the United States on what the ambassador described as a “working vacation.”
Your playlist will load after this ad.
Scott Brown says New Zealand’s relationship with the United States remains good, but that it is time for him to get closer to his family. Source: Breakfast
After arriving at Auckland Airport, the Browns headed to a private tarmac and departed for Wellington in a chartered plane, documents show. That was because newcomers who might be carrying the virus cannot use regular domestic flights.
US officials did not immediately provide the cost of the flight, although a charter operator said such a trip would typically cost between $ 7,000 and $ 14,000.
The U.S. Embassy in New Zealand said today that the flight was paid for by the U.S. Embassy and State Department, freed up hotel space for returning New Zealanders and was cost-effective.
“Since the Browns were at home, the American taxpayer saved the cost of subsistence and other expenses that they would otherwise be entitled to claim,” the embassy wrote in an email.
Your playlist will load after this ad.
Scott Brown has chosen to isolate himself at home. Source: 1 NEWS
The documents indicate that the discussion about the couple’s return began in June, when Brown wrote an email to New Zealand officials saying: “I need to be sure that I will be able to get in my car and drive home and isolate myself.” The ambassador added: “It would be problematic for me to do my job in a hotel.”
Brown told authorities that he and his wife, Gail, would make sure to test negative for the virus in the United States before returning.
New Zealand officials responded that top lawmakers in the government cabinet were discussing what to do with diplomats, whom they cannot force to quarantine due to their special status under the Vienna Convention, and “we hope we are close to the decision point on these issues. “
Your playlist will load after this ad.
Scott Brown says he received donations from the gun lobby, but was also blacklisted. Source: Breakfast
But the uncertainty would drag on for weeks.
An initial plan had the ambassador completing his two-week quarantine in Auckland at the home of the United States Consul General. A second plan had Brown driving the eight-hour trip back to Wellington.
“We will place your vehicle at the airport with additional food, water and fuel and arrange a ‘contactless’ key handover,” US officials wrote in an email.
In the end, US officials told their counterparts that they preferred to book a charter flight. Brown wrote that he had obtained approval of the plan from Washington.
“I’m hopeful that this rock-solid, logical plan can be approved so we can start moving the balls to make it happen,” Brown wrote on August 20 from the United States, just a week before his return.
Your playlist will load after this ad.
1 NEWS understands that the Office of the Inspector General sent investigators to Samoa and Wellington after the July incident. Source: 1 NEWS
The next day, New Zealand officials wrote to say that the Health Ministry had approved the plan.
“Exceptional!” a US official responded.
Brown, a former Republican senator from Massachusetts, has close ties to President Donald Trump and was once considered a possible running mate. Brown and his wife plan to return to the United States permanently in the coming weeks, where Brown will assume a new role as president and dean of the New England law school in Boston.
