When Seahawks defensive end Anthony Hargrove traveled to Portsmouth, Virginia, this summer to speak to youth in the city about his troubled upbringing, it cost taxpayers $40,000.
The Virginian-Pilot reports that the city’s top prosecutor has asked for a state audit of the expenses, which consisted of $30,000 in speaking fees and $10,000 for hotel rooms, a banquet and other expenses.
The event was organized by a Portsmouth social services employee who was the social worker for Hargrove and his siblings when they were growing up in New York. Hargrove grew up as a foster child, and Portsmouth officials said his life story would be inspirational for local kids.
But it’s unclear why that inspirational story had to cost the taxpayers $40,000, especially when some of the expenses included five hotel rooms for six nights for Hargrove and his relatives, even though the extent of Hargrove’s speaking was three two-hour sessions.
Hargrove has played in all four games for the Seahawks this season after signing just before Week One. He played 2009 and 2010 for the Saints after being suspended for the entire 2008 season for his third violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy.