A senior federal Department of Education official is “expected” to do better after the department’s inspector general showed he had a business on the side, failed to pay taxes, and helped award a government contract to a friend.
Danny Harris, the chief information officer for the DOE, received counseling … and that’s, well, punishment enough.
“I stated my expectation that Dr. Harris ensure that absolutely no questions or issues of appearance arise again in the future,” acting DOE Secretary John B. King Jr. said.
Well, then! I guess that’s that!
The inspector general concluded that Harris operated businesses for home theater installation and car detailing, paying two subordinates for their work on these side jobs, and failed to report at least $10,000 in income as required by ethics rules in his public financial disclosure report nor did he on his taxes. He used his official email account for outside business work.
RELATED: U.S. Department of Education, President Obama Embrace Secularism
Harris also participated on a panel that awarded a contract to a company owned by a friend, but his participation didn’t result in the contract being improperly awarded, according to prepared testimony by Deputy Inspector General Sandra D. Bruce.
Harris also took actions to help a relative get a job at the department and made a $4,000 loan to a subordinate.
Harris and King were on the hot seat before a congressional committee yesterday, and legislators from both parties chided the duo.
Representative Stacey Plaskett (D) said that the counseling Harris received was “merely a way for [him] to keep his job.”
Combined with the lack of accountability we’ve seen with VA officials and those at the IRS, does this surprise anyone?
But consider: If the current Republican front-runner ends up winning not only the party’s nomination, but the general election, roughly one-quarter of federal workers say they will quit.
RELATED: Department of Education: ZERO Republican Attorneys, But At Least 47 Democrat Ones
Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter
IMAGE: Shutterstock
Please join the conversation about our stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, MeWe, Rumble, Gab, Minds and Gettr.