Home>>World
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, June 13, 2002

US Report Confirms Vandalism as Clinton Left White House

A U.S. Congressional investigation prompted by Bush administration charged that aides to President Bill Clinton vandalized as they left, found at least 19,000 dollars in damage but concluded it may have been typical of recent outgoing administration.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


A U.S. Congressional investigation prompted by Bush administration charged that aides to President Bill Clinton vandalized as they left, found at least 19,000 dollars in damage but concluded it may have been typical of recent outgoing administration.

"Damage, theft, vandalism, and pranks occurred in the White House complex during the 2001 presidential transition," said a General Accounting Office (GAO) report, which was published here on Wednesday.

GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, based its damage on thefunds needed to repair or replace 62 computer keyboards, 26 cellular phones, 15 television remote controls, nine historic doorknobs, two chairs with broken arms and one presidential seal.

Bush aides told GAO investigators that outgoing Clinton staffers tucked pictures depicting Bush as a chimpanzee, glued desk drawers shut, ripped phone lines from the walls, left messy offices and removed the "W" keys from numerous computer keyboards.A 350 dollars presidential seal was stolen.

"Incidents such as the removal of keys from computer keyboards;the theft of various items; the leaving of certain voice mail messages, signs, and written messages; and the placing of glue on desk drawers clearly were intentional acts," the 215-page report concluded.

"With regard to stolen items, such as the presidential seal, because no one witnessed the thefts and many people were in the White House complex during the transition, it was not known who was responsible for taking them," the report said.

The GAO report said allegations of vandalism also surfaced whenthe Clinton administration took over the White House in 1993 from President Bush's father.

The GAO recommended a "check-out" process for departing White House staff and an inspection for the condition of office space, furniture and equipment.


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced








 


China's Annual Mineral Exports, Imports Tops US$100 Billion ( 3 Messages)

Taiwan Media Reveals US Submarine Sale to Taiwan ( 10 Messages)

Jiang Hopes US to Creat a "Good Climate" for Sino-US Relations ( 3 Messages)

Sino-Russian Ties Curb US Pressures: News Analysis ( 2 Messages)

China Likely to Launch the Lowest SAR in the World ( 8 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved