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Washington-
On
a
snowy
day
in
Washington,
U.S.
Senator
Tim
Scott
(R-SC)
wrote
to
Secretary
of
Housing
and
Urban
Development
(HUD)
Ben
Carson
demanding
answers
regarding
recent
reports
that
HUD
purchased
a
$31,561
dining
room
set
for
Secretary
Carson’s
office,
as
well
as
what
role
the
Secretary
played
in
its
purchase.
Scott
is
the
Chairman
of
the
Senate
Banking
Subcommittee
on
Housing,
Transportation
and
Urban
Development,
which
has
oversight
jurisdiction
over
HUD.
The
full
text
of
the
letter
is
below,
and
a
PDF
copy
is
attached.
Dear
Secretary
Carson:
At
your
confirmation
hearing
last
January,
you
testified
that
the
Department
of
Housing
and
Urban
Development
(HUD)
is
“part
of
the
solution,
helping
ensure
housing
security
and
strong
communities.”
I
agreed
with
that
statement
then
as
I
do
now.
That
is
why
I
was
deeply
disappointed
to
see
press
reports
on
your
alleged
involvement
in
the
purchase
of
a
$31,561
dining
room
set
of
furniture
for
your
office.
Furthermore,
statements
from
your
official
spokesperson
denying
your
participation
in
the
purchase
directly
conflict
with
emails
sent
by
HUD’s
staff
that
were
obtained
under
the
Freedom
of
Information
Act.
When
asked
about
this
yesterday
during
your
appearance
before
the
House
Subcommittee
on
Transportation,
Housing,
and
Urban
Development,
and
Related
Agencies,
you
stated,
“I
can
tell
you
what
I
did.
I
do
not
intend
to
be
responsible
for
what
anyone
else
said.”
To
me,
that
is
the
definition
of
the
buck
stopping
somewhere
else.
At
an
annual
spending
level
that
tops
$47
billion,
there
is
no
question
that
costs
could
and
should
be
cut
at
HUD.
I
was
glad
to
work
with
you
on
incorporating
the
Family
Self-Sufficiency
Act
(S.
1344),
which
eliminates
redundant
HUD
programs,
in
legislation
that
the
Senate
passed
last
week.
That
said,
those
efforts
are
for
naught
should
you
fail
to
be
a
good
steward
of
taxpayer
dollars.
Knowing
the
value
you
place
on
transparency
and
accountability
from
public
officials,
please
answer
the
following
in
writing:
I.
Did
you
personally
select
and
approve
the
purchase
of
this
furniture?
If
you
did
not,
who
did?
Was
that
individual
a
HUD
employee
at
the
time?
If
not,
is
it
legal
for
someone
not
employed
by
HUD
to
make
such
a
decision
related
to
Department
expenses?
II.
During
your
testimony
for
the
House
Subcommittee
on
Transportation,
Housing,
and
Urban
Development,
and
Related
Agencies
yesterday,
you
referenced
“safety
issues”
related
to
the
old
dining
table
set.
Do
you
have
any
documentation
related
to
these
incidences
you
can
share?
III.
Was
the
order
for
the
furniture
rescinded
before
the
set
was
delivered
to
your
office?
And
if
the
order
has
been
rescinded,
was
HUD
reimbursed
the
full
$31,561
listed
on
the
purchase
order?
IV.
How
will
the
new
financial
controls
at
HUD
you
announced
on
March
15,
2018,
prevent
further
similar
incidences?
Please
provide
answers
as
soon
as
possible,
but
by
no
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
April
6,
2018.
I
look
forward
to
discussing
this
request
with
you
further
during
your
appearance
before
the
Senate
Committee
on
Banking,
Housing,
and
Urban
Affairs
on
March
22,
2018.
Sincerely,
U.S.
Senator
Tim
Scott
Chairman
Subcommittee
on
Housing,
Transportation,
and
Community
Development
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