An Office of Special Counsel report has found that General Services Administration chief Lurita Doan violated the Hatch Act, which bars federal officials from partisan political activity while on the job, sources say.
The report addresses a Jan. 26 lunch meeting at GSA headquarters attended by Doan and about 40 political appointees, some of whom participated by videoconference. During the meeting, Scott Jennings, the White House deputy director of political affairs, gave a PowerPoint presentation that included slides listing Democratic and Republican seats the White House viewed as vulnerable in 2008, a map of contested Senate seats and other information on 2008 election strategy.
According to meeting participants, Doan asked after the call how GSA could help “our candidates.”
Doan has until June 1 to respond to the OSC report, which was delivered to her May 18, according to officials. The officials asked to remain anonymous because the report has not been made public.After Doan responds, the report will be sent to President Bush with recommendations that could include suspension or termination. The president is not required to comply with the suggestions.
Office of Special Counsel spokesman James Mitchell said the independent office will release the report after it is sent to the White House, but will not comment on the investigation until then. The White House did not return a call seeking comment. Elaine Kaplan, who headed the Office of Special Counsel under President Clinton and early in the current administration, said “it is extremely unusual” for an agency head to be accused of violating the Hatch Act. But for most employees the penalty for violating the act “is removal,” Kaplan said.
Doan has repeatedly said that she does not remember details of the Jan. 26 meeting.
Monica Goodling, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ former White House liaison, broke down in tears in a colleague’s office as a furor rose about her department’s firings of eight federal prosecutors, according to interview excerpts released Tuesday.
"’All I ever wanted to do was serve this president and this administration and this department,’" Goodling said during a March 8 conversation, according to Associate Deputy Attorney General David Margolis.
Margolis told House and Senate investigators of the conversation during a private meeting earlier this month.
During the 30- to 45-minute encounter, Goodling proceeded "to bawl her eyes out" and repeat the phrase, Margolis said.
But for most employees the penalty for violating the act “is removal,†Kaplan said.
those who violated the Hatch Act will get some merit award or something… for being a “loyal bushie”
too bad Gozales will be out of town for the Goodling hearing (he’ll be in Germany)
It doesn’t matter if Bush and the Bushies violate the law because they are above the law. The above statement ” the president is not required to comply with the suggestion” makes me sick. When has this president ever done the right thing? He’s the decider, commander and whatever other name he has given himself. I’m so tired of this group getting away with murder(the unprovoked war) and lying( like Tony Snow talking about Al Gore’s new Book(needs to fact check his book because Bush etc. didn’t say Saddam had anything to do with 911) Something like 70% of the people in our country once believed that Saddam (Iraq) was responsible. I wonder why? I’m a little depressed this morning after the Democrats gave Bush a bill he can sign one with no timetables. Bush doesn’t like to be told what to do. He’s a spoiled adult you see.