Smithsonian Investigation Reveals Further Abuse

Smithsonian Institution officials repeatedly used government resources and employees for personal projects, according to an internal investigation by the museum, reports The Washington Post.

The investigation, undertaken in 2003, concluded that officials in the museum’s aeronautics divisions diverted employees from museum work to do repairs on “a Colt .45 handgun, motorcycles, bicycles, a candleholder and antique cars, such as an Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite.”

The officials also commissioned work for friends.

The museum said it took “administrative action,” including verbal admonishments, to punish officials, but no serious action.

The woman who oversaw the investigation into the charges, Sheila Burke, is a top candidate to replace Lawrence M. Small, the Smithsonian’s former secretary. Mr. Small in March resigned after harsh criticism about whether he had used the Smithsonian’s money for his own personal benefit — charges he has denied.

Read The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s coverage of the Smithsonian’s internal review.

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