Mrs. Bush fined for failing to declare goods
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Gov. Jeb Bush's wife was fined by customs officials in Atlanta for failing to declare $19,000 in clothing and jewelry she bought during a trip to Paris.
Columba Bush paid Customs a $4,100 fine for failing to declare the merchandise Thursday, the Bushes said in a statement released Friday.
The governor said he and his wife "deeply regret this mistake."
"I am sorry for exercising bad judgment and can assure everyone this will never happen again," Mrs. Bush said.
Mrs. Bush spent five days in Paris, arriving in Atlanta on Thursday afternoon. When customs officials randomly searched her baggage they found the merchandise. The fine represents three times the amount of duty that would have been assessed on the merchandise.
Mrs. Bush paid with a personal check. No criminal penalty is pending or applicable, they said.