OSC Report: GSA Chief Violated Hatch Act

The Gavel has a post noting that the Office of Special Counsel has issued an unpublished report concluding that President Bush's top official at the General Services Administration, Lurita Doan, did indeed violate the Hatch Act in a January 26th lunch meeting at GSA headquarters attended by Doan and Bush political appointees. The Hatch Act prohibits political activities by federal officers while in the scope of their official employment. During the meeting, Scott Jennings, the White House deputy director of political affairs, gave a PowerPoint presentation with slides listing Democratic and Republican seats the White House viewed as vulnerable in 2008, a map of contested Senate seats, and other information on election strategy. Afterward, Doan asked how the GSA could help "our candidates." Doan has until June 1 to respond to the OSC report.

This news mirrors former Alberto Gonzales aide Monica Goodling's admission today before the House Judiciary Committee today that she went too far by using political criteria in the hiring of Assistant U.S. Attorneys across the country (confirmed in the Washington Post today here). This is an administration that has put partisan politics well ahead of the national interest by infecting every aspect of government with its quest for political advantage.