| Not good. We need someone competent running the show. |
Washington, DC (AHN) - Retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert A. Harding withdrew his nomination to be head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Friday, saying the distraction from his past work as a defense contractor would be detrimental to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Harding's withdrawal follows his admission in Wednesday's confirmation hearing that his company overbilled the government in 2004, according to the White House. His Harding Security Associates (HSA), which he sold last year, signed that year a contract with the Defense Department to provide 40 interrogators and debriefers for the conflict in Iraq. The contract was cancelled four months later, prompting HSA to seek severance pay for its workers.
In the hearing, Sen. Susan Collins, (R-ME), said the government settled the contract dispute with HSA for $6 million but $2.4 million of the amount was questionable. The HSA eventually returned $1.8 million to the government.
Harding, who has more than 35 years of military and intelligence experience, was the second nominee for TSA chief to withdraw. Erroll Southers, a Los Angeles airport police executive, backed out in January after information about his company misleading the government two decades ago came out.
| Two decades ago? What was really wrong with the gentleman in question? |
Prior to working as a defense contractor, Harding was the director of operations of the Defense Intelligence Agency and former deputy to the Army's chief of intelligence. |