Did You Know...

**Written by Doug Powers

Darrell Issa originally tried to trick the official into testifying by telling him that he was being called to Washington to be presented with a GSA Jackass Award, but he didn’t fall for it.

From Politico:

The General Services Administration official tasked with organizing a now-infamous $822,000 Las Vegas conference plans to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights ahead of a scheduled Monday grilling on the Hill.

On Thursday, House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) served a subpoena to require Jeff Neely to appear before the committee, according to Democratic committee documents obtained by POLITICO. Neely’s attorney on Friday informed the committee Neely will exercise his right against self-incrimination and requested not to attend the hearing.

“Requiring Mr. Neely to travel from California to appear before the Committee when you have been advised that he will not answer any substantive questions posed to him does not advance any legitimate Committee purpose,” the attorney wrote, according to the documents.

If Neely refuses to testify, Issa should simply subpoena that mind reader the GSA hired for Waste-Fest 2010 to tell the Oversight Committee what he’s thinking.

Questions remain: Who ultimately approved these expenditures? How widespread is the abuse? Will Neely be decked out in all Armani at the hearing? Is the Angry Office Clown going to be subpoenaed? We’ll find out next week.

Background:

Acting GSA administrator: Apologies for the wasted money

Who’s to blame?

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe