The man who will officially become the University’s chancellor Monday said in a press conference Thursday night that he could not confirm whether a government agency is inspecting his tenure as NASA chief.
Senior NASA officials told the Associated Press on Thursday that the Government Accountability Office, Congress’ investigative agency, is conducting an invasive look into former NASA head Sean O’Keefe’s use of funds.
But at a press conference O’Keefe called in the Lod Cook Alumni Center, he said, “I spoke with the NASA Inspector General Robert Cobb and he in turn contacted the GAO. They could not confirm an audit.”
The Associated Press reported that those familiar with the investigation said that the GAO was trying to determine whether “O’Keefe misused government airplanes, went on too many ‘retreats’ at ‘luxurious places’ and played ‘fast and loose’ with travel budgets.”
“Throughout my 25 years as a public servant, I have maintained myself responsibly in regards to finance,” O’Keefe said. “All of my travel expenses have been deemed financially expedient.”
O’Keefe said the allegations of financial irresponsibility come with his role as a public servant, and such allegations often do not hold true.
“I’ve spent most of my life in public service, so something like this comes as no surprise to me,” O’Keefe said.
LSU System President William Jenkins also said he could not comment on claims of O’Keefe’s mismanagement during his time at NASA.
“I cannot respond to anonymous allegations,” Jenkins said. “I did a great deal of background research during the hiring process, and in all the inquiries I made, there was no mention of such an investigation.”
Jenkins said he has been looking into the claims but could not confirm anything.
“For the last 24 hours we have been trying to substantiate these claims,” Jenkins said.
O’Keefe said he hopes University students do not let the allegations affect their opinion of him.
“I think the student body has the voice to tell me when I am not meeting expectations,” O’Keefe said. “I sure hope [these reports] do not affect my relationship with the students.”