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Criminal charges for GSA officials?

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    Republican lawmaker calls spending scandal a 'systemic problem'

  • Duration 4:34
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Our back to reality now for those GSA officials there on Capitol Hill yet again today the next round of hearings on their Las Vegas extravaganza.

Otherwise known as a conference.

All on your dime as a taxpayer congressman Jeff Denham is chairman of the house subcommittee on economic development public buildings and emergency management.

And I talked with him -- short time ago.

Congressman them thank you very much for being with -- you've been investigating.

-- GSA for over a year.

What more have you won covered.

-- this is a systemic.

Problem we're gonna lay out today the whole time line -- the last year and a half how all of these trips have gone.

How they've ignored the the administration and the president on his directives.

And we're gonna show the bigger the bigger root problem of that this is a whole culture not only within GSA but within government altogether.

Before we can restore trust -- government we've got to be able to show that how big of a problem this isn't we're prepared to do that today.

Congressman I read the inspector general's report it says that GSA did not follow federal procurement laws that's arguably a crime.

And there's also evidence of bribes and kickbacks -- -- Lee's wife may have impersonator to federal employee and nearly himself apparently invited friends to the conference had taxpayers pick up the dime for that and here's an email.

I know I -- bad but is dead and I say often why not enjoy it while we have it and while we can't ain't going to last forever.

Prophetic words perhaps -- these people in your judgment be criminally prosecuted.

There'll be a number of people that are criminally prosecuted my commitment to the American taxpayers to make sure that money is paid back.

That we hold those accountable for the wrongdoing and that not just does not just stop with firing them.

But yes people are gonna go behind bars Jeff -- is on paid administrative leave right now but.

My goodness shouldn't he be fired immediately.

Absolutely and that also goes to a bigger problem the administration says that they've got to go through protocol I can't just fire somebody when you've broken the law.

You go to jail and you ought to be fired immediately.

Congressman this was called the western regions conference in the public buildings service of the GSA that's the title of this whole conference.

That basically I spent a couple of hours trying to figure what out what it as.

It's people sharing ideas and strategies.

Can't that be done.

In emails and teleconference in which should congress put an end to -- All of these off site conference is in fact by all federal agencies.

Absolutely you know this goes to again a bigger problem.

They're taking these lavish vacations on taxpayer dollars they could certainly get together and a board room or that this is the agency that has holds all of the federal properties.

We've already noticed that there are over 141000.

Buildings across the nation -- empty you know just like we hold our hearings and empty buildings hold your conference and an empty.

Building Ryan and in fact there were 35 more off some big conferences and seminars that were planned by -- GSA they've now been.

Canceled but it kind of makes you wonder what other federal agencies -- do it -- doing should congress.

Investigate perhaps all of these other federal agencies to see if they are equally abusive and allegedly corrupt.

Absolutely every agency and that's why we're gonna lay this out the way we are today to show that not only is there a time line.

Of many of these conferences over the last two years and we've seen -- this is such an egregious problem.

The administration did nothing about this since 2010 when it first broke.

And we've also found out that it's in other regions of southern and other agencies and they all should be audited no more hiding these budgets from.

Us yet -- is this basically a pretty good example in your mind of government that's too big and as a consequence.

Out of control.

Absolutely.

I mean the president went on air last night talking about needing to raise taxes.

And it you know in my district we've got double digit unemployment twice the national average.

And you considered I'm frustrated I'm outraged as people in my district dark we've got to get trust back in government.

And we've got to get rid of this waste in the process congressman Jeff Denham California.

Good to see it thank you good to see it thanks Greg.

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