Follow-Up Hearing on GSA Corruption
Thursday, May 24th, 2007 by Jesse LeeFollowing up on the hearing held on March 28, 2007, the Oversight Committee will hold a hearing on June 7, 2007, to examine statements made by GSA Administrator Lurita Doan that impugn the reputation of federal officials who cooperated with a Committee investigation into Ms. Doan’s conduct at the General Services Administration.
Full letter to Ms. Doan:
May 24, 2007 The Honorable Lurita A. Doan
Administrator
U.S. General Services Administration
1800 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20405Dear Madam Administrator:
I am writing to invite you to testify before the Oversight Committee on Thursday, June 7, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 2154, Rayburn House Office Building. At this hearing, the Committee will examine your statements to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel about agency political appointees who cooperated in the Committee’s investigation into allegations of misconduct at the General Services Administration. According to press accounts and a copy of the OSC report obtained by the Committee, you have accused these officials of being biased and poor performers.
The Washington Post reported today that you made statements under oath to OSC that GSA political appointees who gave testimony to investigators were biased.[1] The OSC report itself quotes your description of these GSA political appointee witnesses as follows:
[T]here’s not a single one of those who did not have somewhere in between a poor to totally inferior performance … . [S]ome of the most vocal proponents or the most articulate speaking out against me are also the people who are people I’ve either moved on or they are, I don’t want to say permanently demoted but they’re kind of, until extensive rehabilitation of their performance occurs, they will not be getting promoted and they will not be getting bonuses or special awards or anything of that nature.[2]
After receiving your testimony, OSC investigators reviewed copies of all of the witnesses’ most recent performance reviews and any adverse actions proposed or taken against them since your tenure as Administrator began. Notably, the OSC concluded that your account was “unsupported and contradicted by the documentary evidence” and “appears to have been purposefully misleading and false.”[3] With respect to one employee, whom you singled out as “totally inferior” and a “failure,” the OSC found only favorable performance evaluations and no evidence that you had ever proposed or initiated adverse employment action for this alleged failure. In sum, the OSC found “not credible” your implications that adverse witnesses were biased against you.[4]
Your allegations against the GSA officials were a point of concern for the Office of Special Counsel. The OSC report states:
Finally, it is troubling that Administrator Doan made the above unsubstantiated allegations during an official investigation of her actions. It arguably indicates a willingness on her part not only to use her position in a way that is threatening to anyone who would come forward, but also … suggests a willingness to retaliate against anyone who would be so “disloyal” as to tell the truth about a matter she confesses she does not remember.[5]
Your allegations are also a matter of grave concern to me. Government employees who cooperate with congressional and federal investigations perform a vital service to the nation. It would be a serious abuse if your statements were part of an effort to retaliate against these witnesses for cooperating with the Oversight Committee’s investigation.
Over the past five months, it’s become clear that the Justice Department falsely raised issues about the competence of the eight U.S. Attorneys who were dismissed last December. That tactic has been condemned across our country and by both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. It would be remarkable if you adopted that same tactic in trying to discredit GSA employees who cooperated with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Office of Special Counsel.
In addition to being prepared to answer questions about your allegations involving the GSA officials, you may also be asked other questions at the hearing related to the veracity of your statements to the OSC and this Committee.
I understand that your response to the OSC report is due by June 1. The Committee’s hearing will occur after this date, giving you a chance to respond to the OSC before appearing before the Committee.
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee in the House of Representatives and has broad oversight jurisdiction as set forth in House Rule X. Information for witnesses appearing before the Committee is contained in the enclosed Witness Information Sheet.
If you have any questions, please contact David Rapallo or David Leviss of the Committee staff at (202) 225-5420. We look forward to your testimony.
Sincerely,
Henry A. Waxman
Chairman
Enclosure
cc: Tom Davis
Ranking Minority Member
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[1] GSA Chief Violated Hatch Act, Special Counsel’s Report Alleges, Washington Post (May 24, 2007).
[2] OSC, Report of Prohibited Political Activity Under the Hatch Act at 10 (May 18, 2007) (File No. HA-07-1160).
[3] Id. at 11.
[4] Id. at 12.
[5] Id. at 12.