by D. Cupples | Lurita Doan, head of the General Services Administration (which oversees billions in government contracts) has been forced out of her position. The New York Times reports:
"In a stormy two-year tenure as the agency's administrator, Ms. Doan has been accused of improperly mixing government business with politics and of trying to steer government contracts to her friends. Democrats in Congress said she violated the Hatch Act, which makes it illegal for government employees to take action that could influence an election."
"Ms. Doan's resignation as administrator was requested by the White House on Tuesday, and it takes effect immediately, the agency said on Wednesday. It released a statement in which Ms. Doan said, "It has been a great privilege to serve our nation and a great president."
"Much of the criticism of Ms. Doan came after it became known that on Jan. 26, 2007, a deputy to Karl Rove, then President Bush's chief political adviser, gave a briefing to employees of her agency that identified incumbent Democrats in Congress whom the Republican Party hoped to unseat in 2008, as well as Republican incumbents who seemed vulnerable to defeat.
"Several people at that meeting recalled later that Ms. Doan had asked how her agency could be used "to help our candidates." Ms. Doan said she did not remember making that remark.
"Ms. Doan became administrator of the agency on May 31, 2006. Before taking the job, she owned and led New Technology Management, a surveillance-technology company she founded in 1990. It has become a major contractor for the Department of Homeland Security. (NY Times)
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