A White House staffer and a reporter recently rendezvoused to address a recurring issue of items being taken from Air Force One – the presidential plane, according to a report from POLITICO.
A problem was highlighted when the Office of the President noted that several branded items were missing from the press cabin following a trip in February. In response to the incident, an anonymous email was sent offering assistance for a “quiet return” of any items “accidentally” taken.
The individual, who took linens from the presidential plane, met with a White House representative near the Andrew Jackson statue in Lafayette Square, where the item was confidentially returned.
This petty theft seems not to be an isolated incident, as several sources have reportedly observed Air Force One being used as a source of souvenirs by the traveling press pack. Anonymous tips even identified a former major newspaper correspondent serving a dinner party on stolen Air Force One crockery.
Petty theft on official property doesn’t seem confined to the plane. The executive mansion also noted incidents in 2015 of disappearing items – some of significant value.
To discourage theft, the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, Kelly O’Donnell, reminded reporters not to take items from the aircraft, adding that items with Air Force One logos could be purchased outside the plane. However, sources indicate that collectible items available for purchase are not comparable in quality to onboard counterparts.
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