Daleys, Daschle took ride on charity's private jet

A non-profit company under investigation by the IRS and Congress flew Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and his wife, Maggie, to Singapore on its corporate jet.

While spokesman Jacquelyn Heard acknowledges Daley and his wife made the trip in September 2006, she denies a CBS News report the Daleys took 58 flights over a five-year period courtesy of Educap.

"What I'm told is on the (flight) reports does not line up with what our records show," Heard said.

Educap is being investigated for allegedly abusing its tax-exempt status by charging high interest on charitable student loans and the lavish perks it provides its CEO.

According to CBS, the Educap jet, reportedly sold after the IRS launched its investigation, was also used to transport CIA Director Leon Panetta, former FBI Director William Sessions, former Democrat Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota and convicted former Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska.

Heard said Wednesday a check of travel records found that Daley had flown commercial on numerous dates when CBS had him flying on the Educap jet. She said the Singapore trip is only one the Daleys flew on the non-profit's dime.

Maggie Daley once worked as a consultant for Academy of Achievement, a non-profit group that receives millions of dollars of year from Educap, which paid the mayor's wife $100,000 in 2006 and $50,000 in 2007.

Wayne Reynolds is president and CEO of the Academy of Achievement, is on the board of directors of Educap, and is the husband of Catherine Reynolds, who runs Educap.

Daley has been traveling frequently in recent years to promote business, tourism, the Sisters Cities program and Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Heard said as a rule, Daley travels on commercial aircraft.

"Which is not to say he's never flown on a private plane. But that's certainly the exception and not the rule," she said.