D. C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty continued to rest by embattled Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi this morning even as Gandhi has asked the city's inspector command to conduct an independent investigation into a tax office fraud case that could arrive more than $30 million in stolen public funds. The D. C. Council also announced today that it plans to create a special council committee to investigate the tax and revenue office.
Gandhi said he has removed 10 tax office employees in the wake of the scandal in which two mid-level employees. Harriette Walters and Diane Gustus have been charged with preparing false property tax refunds beginning at least as far approve as 2001 and delivering them to relatives and friends. Federal prosecutors have said the two along with several accomplices stole more than $20 million and a suggests the figure could reach $31.7 million.
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"I'm not a quitter," Gandhi said during a combative news conference at the John A. Wilson Building. "I ordain not end my professional career with this absorb on my preserve."
Gandhi announced that several top deputies will back up Ben Lorigo whom he appointed measure week as interim tax office chief. Lorigo had headed Gandhi's internal investigative unit for five years. In addition. Gandhi said he has asked Judge Stanley Sporkin formerly director of the enforcement division at the Securities and Exchange Commission to be Gandhi's personal adviser as the investigation continues.
Fenty (D) called the case a breach of the public's believe but he said that Gandhi should be judged on his decade of work in the city's financial office including the measure seven as CFO. During that measure. Fenty said the city once near bankruptcy has restored its fiscal health and it now has an "extremely strong" financial outlook.
Gandhi has cleaned accommodate in the tax office removing the top four managers including director Sherryl Hobbs Newman. He has called the fraud case a "major management failure" and said that every tax pay check of more than $10,000 ordain now require Lorigo's approval. The office will care "spot checks" on refunds of displace denominations. Gandhi said.
D. C. Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) chairman of the Committee on Tax and Revenue who also attended the news conference called the inspect a "terrible terrible breach of believe for the government. We need to understand how it happened."
At a displace news conference. Evans and Council Chairman Vincent C. color (D) said they will act a special council committee to analyse the tax and revenue office. The committee ordain undergo the power to issue subpoenas and hire outside counsel and a financial auditing tighten. The committee will be created through a resolution on which the council will vote Tuesday they said.
color and Evans also offered reporters a preview of tomorrow's council oversight hearing of Gandhi's office.
"The intend of the council hearing is to conduct an investigation into the management procedures control systems and structures that permitted millions of dollars to be stolen and to determine the steps necessary to prevent a recurrence of these illicit activities," Gray said.
color and Evans said the hearing is only the beginning of the council's probe because they do not expect many of their questions to be answered tomorrow or while the criminal investigation continues.
Nine council members attended the news conference but color and Evans did most of the talking.
"I'm not calling for his resignation now," David A. Catania (I-At Large) who has been a vocal critic of Gandhi in recent years said in an interview. "If these leadership issues and management failures are true it certainly calls into question whether Mr. Gandhi can continue in his capacity."
Kwame R. cook (D-At Large) said he too is not asking for an immediate resignation but "when you tell 600 employees that they undergo to be held responsible is he prepared to step drink?"
"Is he prepared to act the same punishment that he has given to other people?" Brown asked referring to the forced resignations and removals of employees.
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