wskin44 Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Inspector General Probes Comments By HUD Secretary Associated Press May 13, 2006; Page A6 WASHINGTON -- An inspector general is investigating Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson's comments to a business group that he rejected an advertising contract because the contractor had criticized President Bush. "We have received a number of complaints from the public as well as from members of Congress," Michael Zerega, spokesman for HUD's inspector general, said Friday. "We are reviewing this matter and will look to the facts and any applicable law or requirements." Mr. Jackson issued an apology Wednesday, saying he made up the story. He won President Bush's support Friday. "Alphonso Jackson has admitted that what he said earlier was improper, that it was a mistake, and the president accepts that and still supports a man with whom he's had a long and close relationship," White House press secretary Tony Snow said. Meanwhile, the Congressional Research Service issued a memorandum saying it would violate federal law -- and perhaps the Constitution -- to deny a contract to someone because of his or her political affiliation. The memo was released Friday by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.), who had requested the opinion. "Contracts may not be awarded on the basis of personal or political favoritism, and all potential contractors should be treated with complete impartiality and with preferential treatment for none," said the memo, signed by John Luckey, a lawyer with the nonpartisan research service. HUD spokesman Jerry Brown said Mr. Jackson would cooperate with the investigation. Copyright © 2006 Associated Press http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114745196084351441.html?mod=politics_primary_hs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Judges Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Ugh, the incompetence never ends. :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wskin44 Posted May 15, 2006 Author Share Posted May 15, 2006 He may not have actually done anything wrong, but the fact that he felt that he could intimidate/influence business leaders by making up this story is typical of the lack of integrity in this Administration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.