"I believe that the secretary of the Smithsonian [Lawrence M. Small] has lost the confidence of the American people with his actions -- actions that have been contrary to the public trust he has been given," Grassley said.
The former Smithsonian inspector general who launched an audit of high-ranking officials and their business practices said yesterday that Secretary Lawrence M. Small tried to pressure her to drop the inquiry shortly after she announced it last year....
Small had charged the institution $90,000 in unauthorized expenditures during his tenure, including chartered jet travel, his wife's trip to Cambodia, hotel rooms, luxury car service, catered staff meals and expensive gifts.
...Rudy Rudran, a conservation officer at the National Zoo and a Smithsonian employee for 40 years, said he was outraged and called for Small's resignation in an open letter to Undersecretary Sheila Burke. "The bottom line is that ever since Mr. Small came to the Smithsonian, he has behaved in a manner unbecoming of a person responsible for leading a highly respected academic institution. He has had a corrupting influence at the Smithsonian," Rudran wrote.
Lawrence M. Small Earns $915,698.
