Chief Justice's Daughter Resigning Government Post, Under Investigation for Alleged Misconduct

posted by NYC on Tuesday March 04, @01:49PM

From Jonathan Karl, CNN Washington Bureau

Tuesday, March 4, 2003 Posted: 6:22 PM EST (2322 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Janet Rehnquist, daughter of U.S. Chief Justice William Rehnquist, is stepping down as inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, in the face of allegations of professional misconduct, several sources told CNN Tuesday.

She was appointed to the post by President Bush and took office in August 2001. As inspector general, Rehnquist supervises approximately 1,600 employees and acts as the internal watchdog for the HHS Department.

Rehnquist has been under investigation by the Senate Finance Committee and the General Accounting Office for official misconduct, including allegations she improperly delayed an audit of the Florida state pension system. Rehnquist has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

In addition, Rehnquist was being investigated by the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency -- a special group that oversees inspectors general -- for allegedly having a handgun in her office.

Continued.

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The impending resignation, expected to take effect this week, comes as the top Republican and top Democrat of the Senate Finance Committee prepared to call for Rehnquist to step down.

Finance Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, informed the White House of his intention this week.

Tom Scully, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at HHS and a friend of Janet Rehnquist, defended her.

"Her biggest problem is that her name is Rehnquist," he said in a statement. "She was an easy target. She's had a lot of people in her own agency taking shots at her."

Janet Rehnquist was not available for comment Tuesday.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/03/04/janet.rehnquist/index.html

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