United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office General Government Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1994-05-02 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:GGD-94-132 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GGD-94-132 P0b002ee180396189 f:gg94132 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GGD-94-132 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GGD-94-132 GGD-94-132 Investigations by federal agencies Human resources utilization Conflict of interest Crimes or offenses Personnel management Internal controls Accounting procedures Financial management Employee dismissal Executive agencies Chapter Report GGD

Although the White House had the authority to fire several employees in its press travel office in 1993, the White House should have made the effort to insulate its management decisions from influence from persons with a personal interest in travel office operations. Catherine Cornelius, Harry Thomason, and Darnell Martens, all of whom had potential personal or business interests in the Travel Office operations, created the momentum to examine the Travel Office by raising allegations about improper management to White House officials and participating in activities that appeared to anticipate the firings. Although Mr. Thomason and Mr. Martens had passes that gave them unrestricted access to the White House and participated in discussions about the Travel Office, GAO did not conclude that they were "special government employees" subject to conflict of interest laws. GAO does question the practice of granting nongovernment employees uncontrolled access to White House offices without having policies to govern their activities because the appearance of influence and authority that access conveys could lead to inappropriate actions or abuses. This report discusses (1) past operations and oversight of the Travel Office; (2) current Travel Office operations and the extent to which identified problems have been corrected; (3) actions taken in the spring of 1993 that prompted the White House decision to investigate Travel Office operations and fire the employees; (4) actions taken by other agencies during this period, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service; and (5) other matters related to the Travel Office situation. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GGD-94-132/html/GAOREPORTS-GGD-94-132.htm GAO/GGD-94-132 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GGD-94-132 Chapter Report GAO/GGD-94-132; The White House: Travel Office Operations; Investigations by federal agencies Human resources utilization Conflict of interest Crimes or offenses Personnel management Internal controls Accounting procedures Financial management Employee dismissal Executive agencies Title 3 Section 105(a)(1) 3 U.S.C. 105(a)(1) Title 5 Section 2104 Title 5 Section 2105 Title 5 Section 3110 Title 5 Section 7511(b)(3) 5 U.S.C. 2104 5 U.S.C. 2105 5 U.S.C. 3110 5 U.S.C. 7511(b)(3) Title 18 Section 202(a) Title 18 Section 203 Title 18 Section 205 Title 18 Section 207 Title 18 Section 208 18 U.S.C. 202(a) 18 U.S.C. 203 18 U.S.C. 205 18 U.S.C. 207 18 U.S.C. 208 Volume 107 Page 1198 107 Stat. 1198 Public Law 101-576 Public Law 103-50 Public Law 103-122 Title 5 Part 315.602 5 CFR Part 315.602