House panel raises new allegations against GSA chief
By Daniel Pulliam
dpulliam@govexec.com
The head of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has asked General Services Administration chief Lurita Doan to appear before the panel to address evidence gathered by investigators suggesting she may have engaged in improper political and contracting activity.
In a 15-page letter released Tuesday, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said investigators found that during a teleconference in late January, Doan asked agency officials to find opportunities to help Republican political candidates win office. Waxman said the GSA inspector general has asked the Office of Special Counsel to open an investigation into whether Doan violated the Hatch Act, a law limiting political activity in the federal workplace.
Waxman's letter, addressed to Doan, also charged that she intervened on the behalf of Sun Microsystems, a computer vendor in Santa Clara, Calif., in the midst of a lengthy contract renewal dispute.
The letter also said investigators found documents revealing Doan was disingenuous in explaining why she attempted to award a no-bid $20,000 contract to a friend with whom she has had extensive personal and business dealings.
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