“In My Defense, Your Honor, I Was Just Making Up Shit”

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson is scrambling, since reports of his remarks in an April 28 talk in Dallas have caused rather a stir. His spokesman has offered conflicting explanations, and now seems to conveniently be on "scheduled leave" and can't be reached for further comment. Jackson himself issued a statement, reported by Jenny Mandel of GovExec.com, which seems to suggest he just made up the story, told in his speech to "edify" the audience, wherein he claimed he had rescinded a government contract to a winning bidder after the selectee said he doesn’t like President Bush. ThinkProgress has learned that HUD Inspector General Kenneth M. Donohue, Sr. has launched a review of Jackson’s conduct. update: Josh Marshall draws a couple illlustrative parallels.