Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. letter to the editor of the Washington Post, October 18, 2000

ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR. JZ~„, Congress of tlje ®niteii States ffious» of -Rtnrcisentatte Dear Editor: I am writing in response to the Washington Post article entitled "Discrimination Complaint Filed in Dispute at HUD." Since her appointment by President Clinton in 1993, HUD Inspector General Susan Gaffney has done an outstanding job investigating the waste, fraud, and abuse in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Instead of working with Ms. Gaffney to clean up this troubled agency, HUD Secretary Cuomo has systematically attacked Ms. Gaffney and her staff both personally and professionally during the last three years. Of course, one should not be surprised by Secretary Cuomo’s meanspirited attacks as they are consistent with the Clinton-Gore playbook of harassing an employee who is critical of the administration, regardless of whether that employee is simply doing his or her job. As an agency watchdog, Ms. Gaffney and her staff have conducted themselves with professionalism and class - not for political ambition - but to protect the American taxpayer and to help those who need housing assistance.