Inspector General confirms allegations of tax dollar abuse are just the “tip of the iceberg”
WASHINGTON – Kansas Republican Senator Jerry Moran, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, Wednesday questioned General Services Administration’s (GSA) Inspector General Brian Miller about the Inspector General report on GSA’s 2010 Western Regions Conference.
At the hearing, Sen. Moran received confirmation from Inspector General Miller that the allegations of mismanagement of taxpayer dollars are just the “tip of the iceberg.” The Inspector General also confirmed that GSA is working with the Department of Justice to determine whether indictments are appropriate as a result of the criminal conduct being alleged.
The Inspector General report covers actions taken during a GSA-sponsored 4-day conference at a luxury hotel outside Las Vegas in 2010. According to the report, the conference cost taxpayers more than $822,000 of which more than $146,000 was spent on food and beverage catering. Shortly after the announcement, GSA Administrator Martha Johnson submitted her resignation to the White House, and other employees were fired.
Highlights from Sen. Moran’s conversation with Inspector General Miller
SEN. MORAN: “What is the extent of the problem at GSA that this covers? Is this the sum total of problems at this agency or is this the proverbial tip of the iceberg?”
INSPECTOR GENERAL MILLER: “Senator, it is one event. We produce reports that we can verify every which way. We did report on western regions conference, and we have a number of ongoing investigations. We have not produced reports yet on the number of ongoing investigations and there are many other ongoing investigations.”
SEN. MORAN: “Can you quantify that? The magnitude of the number of investigations you are conducting?”
INSPECTOR GENERAL MILLER: “It’s a little difficult because, as I said in my opening statement, every time we turn over a stone, we find 50 more – and we find other instances. You know, even today, we found out that the wife of the regional commissioner had a parking space throughout the year of 2012 at the federal building.”
You can also watch the video below of Senator Morans comments.