Once again, we see that there is no policy, just politics.

GSA chief accused of Hatch Act violation

By JIM ABRAMS

WASHINGTON — The head of the main federal contracting agency, a longtime GOP supporter, should be “punished to the fullest extent” for violating a ban on political advocacy on government time, a watchdog agency concluded.

The Office of Special Counsel, in a letter to President Bush released late Monday, said General Services Administrator Lurita Doan engaged in “the most pernicious of political activity” banned by the 1939 Hatch Act when she asked, at a meeting of General Services Administration political appointees, how they could help Republican candidates.

“I recommend that Administrator Doan be disciplined to the fullest extent for her serious violation of the Hatch Act and insensitivity to cooperating fully and honestly in the course of our investigation,” wrote Scott Bloch, special counsel for the independent investigative and prosecutorial agency.

Doan’s attorney, in a June 1 response to Bloch also released Monday, rejected the office’s conclusions, saying Doan was only peripherally involved in the January 26 PowerPoint presentation by a senior White House political adviser at GSA headquarters on helping Republicans in coming elections.

Michael J. Nardotti, Jr., of Patton Boggs LLP, criticized the “lack of objectivity and impartiality” by the Office of Special Counsel and said it had “resulted in an extraordinary unfairness to Administrator Doan.” He urged the president to disapprove the report and submit the matter to another entity outside the Office of Special Counsel.

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