Lisa Gomer -- the ex-general counsel of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) -- is to leave government service from 9 February after resigning several days ago, according to Corporate Counsel magazine.
Internal memos
Her departure is understood to have been sparked by USAID’s Office of Inspector General, which released a series of internal memos to the House of Representatives’ committee on oversight and government reform. The messages refer to an investigation alleging that Ms Gomer ‘colluded’ with USAID’s outgoing chief financial officer, David Ostermeyer, on a personal service contract for a procurement reform initiative in the office of general counsel.
‘This position was advertised at the GS-15, and Ms Gomer planned to select Mr Ostermeyer for the position,’ the message states. The code GS-15 refers to a government pay grade.
Slapping down badges
The memos also include conversations between the Office of Inspector General and USAID’s deputy administrator Donald Steinberg last year. Mr Steinberg told the office that ‘it is a mistake to have a criminal investigation underway’ and that, ‘when people are slapping badges down, reading rights, and monitoring who is calling who as it relates to career people, it is a mistake’.
Ms Gomer’s lawyer, David Schertler of Washington DC law firm Schertler & Onorato, said his client ‘did not violate any law’. He went on to add that she ‘co-operated completely’ with the OIG investigation.
Various US news organisation say they have sought comment from Mr Ostermeyer, with the Washington Post newspaper reporting he has failed to respond.
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