Overview

• An ABC7/KGO-7 investigation, now amplified by national outlets, found receipts for costly trips that often lacked clear insurance-related business purposes.
• Reporters say only seven of 48 trips had a direct business purpose identified after nine months of records requests, with receipts showing taxpayer expenses on at least 13 trips.
• Specific bills cited include more than $11,600 tied to a New York City PrideFest stay, over $24,000 for an LGBTI conference in Bogota, and more than $33,000 for security during a two-and-a-half-week visit to South Africa that included a safari.
• Breitbart highlighted additional claims that Lara missed key in-state meetings while attending overseas gatherings, including previously reported meetings with insurance executives in Bermuda.
• Deputy Commissioner Michael Soller defended the spending as compliant with FPPC rules and credited the travel with policy work such as climate risk reporting and health insurance advocacy, while further information requests remain pending.