Congresswoman under fire for riding in private plane tied to glider kit company that she helped

A U.S. Representative and leading Republican candidate for Governor of Tennessee is under scrutiny after she allegedly rode in a private plane associated with a glider kit company who she helped fight against EPA emissions regulations.

Diane Black took flight on private plane linked to company that benefited from her politicking https://t.co/J0fcX4Tsnq pic.twitter.com/rH8IhBptQn

— Tennessean (@Tennessean) May 18, 2018

According to a recent report in the Tennessean, Rep. Diane Black and campaign staff members rode in a private plane last month to events including the Paris Fish Fry and the Hamilton County Reagan Day Dinner. The plane was reportedly registered to a company that is affiliated with the founders of Tennessee-based company Fitzgerald Glider Kits.

Fitzgerald Glider Kits also donated $225,000 to Black’s campaign.

Black helped to convince the Environmental Protection Agency’s Scott Pruitt to continue to exempt glider kits from federal emissions regulations. She did this in part by showing him a Tennessee Technological University emissions study funded by Fitzgerald Glider Kits.

Black says that she rented use of the private plane at fair market value and that proof of this will be listed in upcoming campaign finance reporting.

A lawyer for Fitzgerald Gliders Kits maintains that the company does not own the plane.