On Wednesday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) revealed that over $100 billion of the nearly $4.55 trillion spent on COVID-19 relief programs was stolen or used for fraudulent purposes:

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States government has spent nearly $4.55 trillion on relief aid, and, unsurprisingly, in December, the United States Secret Service revealed that more than $100 billion of it was stolen from COVID-19 relief programs or considered fraudulent.

One of Paul’s most shocking discoveries consisted of 4 people using over $31.5 in COVID-19 relief funds to buy luxury vehicles. Paul highlighted:

In fact, four people managed to use over $31.5 million in COVID-19 relief funds to purchase luxury cars. You’ve got that right: you helped four people – one of whom isn’t even a U.S. citizen – purchase luxury cars.

The Kentucky Senator emphasized the luxury brand nature of the vehicle purchased with the misused funds:

I’m talking really expensive vehicles, here: Porsches, Ferraris and even Lamborghinis. One managed to purchase a whole “fleet” of luxury cars using $17 million (yes, you read that right) taxpayer dollars, which included a Corvette Stingray, a Porsche Macan and a Bentley Convertible. Of that, the Federal government has only recouped $7.2 million. Another man used $5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to purchase a Lamborghini and Ferrari, “among other luxury cars.”

Paul concluded by noting that while millions of Americans had to deal with tough economic conditions, four individuals were able to live lavishly on the taxpayer dime.  He stated:

So, while many Americans were stuck at home making banana bread and watching Tiger King, these individuals were living it up with the top down in their fancy cars.

In a separate post, Paul vowed to expose all alleged cases of “COVID-19 waste, fraud, and abuse.” He proclaimed:

I'm determined to expose ALL COVID-19 waste, fraud, and abuse. Read my letter to the SBA Inspector General detailing over $5.4 billion in funds dispensed to fraudsters HERE: https://www.paul.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/01.30.23_JKE-SRP-Letter-to-SBA-OIG_FINAL2.pdf

As one of DC’s most prominent fiscal conservatives, Paul has built a reputation for exposing government programs that he considers to be wasteful. On an annual basis, Paul publishes a “Festivus Report” listing his fiscal policy grievances. Paul drew inspiration for this report from the famed sitcom “Seinfeld”, which featured a Festivus holiday episode where the show cast aired its grievances.

In his 2022 report, Paul found $482,276,543,907 in alleged waste.