Rep. Susie Lee takes $24,000 London trip, brings son on special interest-funded junket

By Brittany Sheehan  

Nevada News and Views

Imagine you’re working two jobs to keep up with Nevada’s sky-high housing costs. Then you find out your congresswoman just took a $24,000 trip to London. And she brought her adult son along for the ride.

That’s exactly what happened with Rep. Susie Lee, Nevada’s Democratic congresswoman. The Review Journal’s Jessica Hill just revealed that Lee spent five days at a fancy London hotel that costs $400 per night. All paid for by a group called Center Forward.

What Happened

Lee attended something called an “International Issues Conference” in June. The group picked up the tab for both her and her son to attend. Her son doesn’t work for the government. He has no official role. But he got a free trip to London anyway.

After the conference ended, Lee and her son stayed four more days. She paid for that part herself. But the main trip? That was covered by outside money.

The House Ethics Committee approved the trip. That means it was technically legal. But legal doesn’t always mean right.

Why This Matters to Conservatives

This story hits at the heart of what conservatives have been saying for years. Washington politicians live in a different world than regular Americans.

While Nevada families are struggling with inflation and high costs, their representative is jet-setting to Europe. She’s staying at five-star hotels and bringing family members along.

Dr. Aury Nagy, a Republican candidate for Lee’s seat, tells NN&V: “Rep. Susie Lee didn’t just take a $24,000 group trip to London — she brought her son along, even though he holds no government position and serves no public role. This raises serious questions about judgment and priorities.”

Nagy continued: “While Nevada families are struggling with high home prices, high unemployment and are working hard to afford everyday needs, their representative is spending tens of thousands on overseas travel and turning it into a family vacation — all under the banner of public service.”

The Special Interest Connection

Here’s where it gets even more concerning for conservatives. Center Forward, the group that paid for the trip, doesn’t tell the public who funds them. But we know some things.

Their political action committee gave Lee $75,000 in 2024. Their donors include big oil companies like Chevron and ConocoPhillips.

New Clark County Republican Party Chair Jill Douglass shared strong words about this to NN&V, saying: “More evidence that Susie Lee is bought and paid for by special interests.”

Douglass said: “Maybe she should just sit at the kitchen table of Nevadans to understand her constituents’ pain points instead of taking international trips. She’s out of touch with hard-working Nevadans.”

A Pattern of Behavior

This wasn’t Lee’s first rodeo. Last year, she took her daughter on a similar trip to Portugal. That one cost over $3,400. Again, she stayed extra days at her own expense. Again, she brought a family member who has no government role.

Republican congressional candidate Marty O’Donnell pointed out the timing, writing on social media: “While Republicans were working to cut taxes for working families last month, Susie was enjoying tea and crumpets at a five-star hotel overseas,”

O’Donnell said: “She is only out for herself.”

What Lee Says

Lee defended the trips. She said they help her do her job better. She sits on important committees that deal with spending and natural resources.

Lee said: “Of course I would attend a bipartisan educational opportunity alongside my House Republican and Democratic colleagues, approved by the House Committee on Ethics and at no cost to the taxpayer,”

She also said these trips help her build relationships that benefit Nevada.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about one trip or one politician. It’s about the culture in Washington that conservatives want to change.

Regular Americans don’t get to take their kids on work trips. They don’t stay at $400-per-night hotels. They don’t have special interest groups paying for their vacations.

But somehow, this is normal for members of Congress. They call it “fact-finding” or “relationship building.” To many conservatives, it looks like corruption with a fancy name.

What Conservatives Can Do

First, pay attention to these disclosure forms. They’re public records. You can see where your representatives are going and who’s paying for it.

Second, ask tough questions. When politicians take these trips, demand to know what they accomplished. What specific benefits did Nevada get from Lee’s London vacation?

Third, support candidates who pledge to end this kind of behavior. Look for people who will refuse these junkets or at least leave their families at home.

The swamp won’t drain itself. It takes voters who are willing to hold their representatives accountable. This London trip is just the latest example of why that accountability matters.

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Brittany Sheehan is a Las Vegas-based mother, policy advocate and grassroots leader. She is active in local politics, successful in campaign work and passionate about liberty.