Story highlights Zinke's use of Interior Department and other helicopters was revealed earlier this yearDocuments show that helicopter trips to and from events within a few hours cost taxpayers more than $14,000Washington (CNN) Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke responded Saturday to reports about his helicopter use, calling them a "wild departure from reality" in a statement on Twitter. "Recent articles about official Interior Department helicopter usage are total fabrications and a wild departure of reality," he said in a statement posted with the tweet. pic.twitter.com/5tOovaYbnv — Secretary Ryan Zinke (@SecretaryZinke) December 9, 2017"All of these instances were thoroughly vetted and scrutinized before being approved by the Department's career ethics officers and solicitors," he said. Zinke's use of Interior Department and other helicopters was revealed earlier this year when the department released his office and travel schedules in response to Freedom of Information Act requests. Documents show that helicopter trips to and from events within a few hours of his Washington office cost taxpayers more than $14,000.

Source: CNN December 09, 2017 21:56 UTC