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which seems to suggest he just made up the story, told in his speech to "edify" the audience, wherein he claimed he had rescinded a government contract to a winning bidder after the selectee said he doesn’t like President Bush.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.
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