Nothing Says Class Like a Bottle of Dom at Hooters

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Hooters restaurant chain has a $200 check ready for FEMA, reimbursement for a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne bought with hurricane relief money last year.

FEMA will be happy to have the money back.

The champagne, purchased in San Antonio, Texas, was among numerous examples of improper spending of relief money for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita cited earlier this week by the Government Accountability Office.

The GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, found at least $1 billion in disaster relief payments by the Federal Emergency Management Agency were improper and potentially fraudulent because the recipients provided incomplete or incorrect information when they registered for assistance. (GAO report)

Besides the bottle of champagne, the GAO uncovered records showing $1,000 from a FEMA debit card went to a Houston, Texas, divorce lawyer, $600 was spent in a strip club, and $400 bought "adult erotica products," all of which auditors concluded were "not necessary to satisfy legitimate disaster needs." (Full story)

"It bothers me as an American that resources that were intended to help victims of this tremendous tragedy were spent this way," said Hooters Chairman Bob Brooks, referring to the champagne from Hooters.

"Even if it's in my restaurants, it's still not right. If FEMA will let me know where to send the check I'll get the $200 out right away," Brooks said in an announcement from Atlanta, Georgia.

FEMA spokesman Aaron Walker responded, "We will more than welcome the check from Hooters and appreciate their recognition in helping true disaster victims."

Following Katrina, Brooks sent one of his Hooters Air 737s loaded with supplies into the Gulf Coast disaster area.

The restaurant chain also donated $225,000 to the Red Cross Katrina relief fund.