Democrats Press Rumsfeld for Halliburton Records
Fri December 19, 2003 05:42 PM ET
(Page 1 of 2)
By Jim Wolf
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic lawmakers pressed Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Friday for records that could shed light on a draft audit that found Halliburton may have overcharged the U.S. government by $61 million for fuel it shipped into Iraq.
Halliburton, the Texas-based oil services company run by Dick Cheney before he became vice president, refused to be drawn into what it suggested was a growing political fight as Democrats put pressure on the Bush administration over Iraqi contracts.
"We do not intend to debate these issues within the context of a political campaign, for either party," said Halliburton spokeswoman Wendy Hall.
A preliminary Pentagon audit disclosed last week found evidence that a Halliburton unit, Kellogg Brown and Root, potentially overcharged by as much as $61 million through September for gasoline imported from Kuwait under an Iraq reconstruction project.
Rep. Henry Waxman of California and Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, respectively the top Democrats on the House of Representatives' Government Reform Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee, asked for detailed information about subcontracts and bids by potential subcontractors.
They also sought records, by no later than Jan. 5, of contacts between the Defense Department and Halliburton, and between the Defense Department and the Kuwaiti Oil Ministry relating to gasoline imports.
INTERNAL AUDIT DOCUMENTS
Halliburton was awarded a no-bid contract in March to rebuild Iraq's oil industry. So far, it has billed the U.S. government $2.26 billion for related services.
Halliburton denies any wrongdoing and Hall said "KBR delivered fuel to Iraq at the best value, the best price and the best terms."
reuters.com |
