WASHINGTON (7News) — For months, 7News has been trying to get answers about who's paying for D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's globe-hopping trip. Most notably, a $61,930 junket to the Middle East for her and four of her staff.

Despite stonewalling by the mayor's office, 7News I-Team Investigator Scott Taylor uncovered that the trip was paid for by the government of Qatar and was never approved as required under city rules established by the mayor herself.

The 7News I-Team was ready to drop another bombshell on this story on Monday.

RELATED | DC Mayor asking Qatar to sign a donation agreement two years after it paid for her visit

The mayor's office claimed a March letter from Qatar somehow met paperwork requirements, which needed to be filed and approved before she took that pricey trip in 2023. But that letter is missing vital information required by her own policy.

On Thursday, Mayor Bowser finally talked to 7News about it on camera.

"Why were you not transparent in 2023, according to your own 2015 memorandum about obtaining a donation agreement before you traveled to Qatar?" asked Taylor.

"We should have, but that donation agreement has been completed,” said Mayor Bowser.

"The donation agreement doesn't even follow your own rules. It's just a letter and it's missing two answers to questions, and it isn't signed by two district officials. Have you let other donation agreements come in from just letters with no invoices?" said Taylor.

"Uhm... like I said, we typically do the donation agreements according to our best practices," added Mayor Bowser.

"So that was a mistake by your office?" asked Taylor.

"It was,” said Mayor Bower.

"Why did your communications director misinform us twice about who paid for the Middle East trip?" asked Taylor.

"She must have had a misunderstanding,” said Mayor Bowser.

"My last question. Are you under any ethics investigation for your undocumented travel or your office?” asked Taylor.

"No, I'm not. No,” added Mayor Bowser

The 7News I-Team investigation is continuing because the mayor has yet to fully explain or show travel receipts for her trips to the Masters, Dubai, Miami, Las Vegas, and Mar-A-Lago.