Caucus Chairman Emanuel on GSA Administator Doan

CongressDaily - June 12, 2007

The head of a federal investigative agency has recommended President Bush fire General Services Administration chief Lurita Doan for encouraging top agency officials at a staff meeting in January to find ways to help Republican candidates in the 2008 election.

In a sternly written letter dated last Friday and obtained by CongressDaily, Special Counsel Scott Bloch advised the president that Doan should "be disciplined to the fullest extent for her serious violation of the Hatch Act."

Under administrative statute, the "fullest extent" for a political appointee such as Doan is termination.

"Despite engaging in the most pernicious of political activity prohibited by the Hatch Act, Administrator Doan has shown no remorse and lacks an appreciation for the seriousness of her violation," Bloch wrote Bush, referring to the law barring executive branch employees from engaging in partisan political activity.

Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel issued the following statement:

"For years, the Bush Administration has tried to turn the federal government into another arm of the Republican Party. At every level of government, the President has put politics first. But it's never too late to do the right thing. President Bush should heed the special counsel's report, and fire or suspend Ms. Doan immediately -- the administration should not offer amnesty for GSA Directors who violate the law."