OSC rejects claim it leaked copies of Hatch Act repor

[struggle4progress]

Source: Government Executive

By Daniel Pulliam [email protected] May 30, 2007

The head of the Office of Special Counsel rejected a request by attorneys for General Services Administration chief Lurita Doan to shut down an inquiry into allegations that she violated the law limiting political activity in the government.

In a one-page letter Friday, Special Counsel Scott Bloch said Doan's accusation that OSC gave copies of its investigative report to the public is false. The letter said OSC believes that someone from GSA obtained a copy of the report, which found that Doan had violated the Hatch Act through her role in a January meeting at GSA headquarters, and leaked it to the press.

The letter came in response to one from Doan's lawyer arguing that OSC's objectivity has been "irreparably damaged" by leaks of a report on preliminary findings to the media. Bloch should "disapprove the current report and support any further consideration of this matter by an investigative body outside the Office of Special Counsel," the lawyers said.

Bloch said Doan is "attempting to throw up roadblocks" to OSC's investigation. ~snip~

Read more: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=37050&dcn=todaysnews

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5-to-1 Lurita's gang leaked the report so they could whine about how unfair it was

[Bitwit1234]

1. She violated the Hatch Act

what difference does it make, if someone leaked the info or not. Are employees required to break the law also to protect their boss.

[L. Coyote]

2. HEADLINE (averted): GSA chief violated Hatch Act. Criminal Politization Reported by OSC.

So now the crime, "criminal politization of the Executive Branch," is not the story.

Another Bushesque MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Things are far worse, but there must be a victory to spin in this somewhere.