Papers: Fed boat bought with fines used for fun

Papers: Fed boat bought with fines used for fun

BOSTON (AP) — New documents indicate a luxury undercover boat purchased with fines collected from fishermen was used by federal fishery police to visit restaurants and for high-speed “pleasure cruising.”

The documents were released today after a Freedom of Information Act request by U.S. Sen. Scott Brown’s office.

They’re part of the Inspector General of the U.S. Commerce Department’s audit on how the millions in fines paid by fishermen were used. The audit uncovered broad mismanagement.

The documents the Massachusetts Republican requested focus on how the $300,000 boat was used.

The investigation showed one agent took his wife and friends on boat trips to visit dockside restaurants near Washington’s Puget Sound, and used the boat for whale watching and pleasure cruising.