The Inspector General of the Smithsonian, Debra Ritt, resigned from the institution and joined the Small Business Administration. This follows the creation of Smithsonian Business Ventures, a unit that aims to manage all of the for-profit programs (including the Showtime deal). Ritt cited a decrease in the Smithsonian's budget, but problems go a little deeper than that.

In its latest report, the inspector general's office points out that it also questioned $340,000 in annual bank fees that the Smithsonian paid. Another discovery: A diversion of funds through a false change of address so that $107,000 went to a person who was not supposed to receive it.

In recent years, the inspector general's office was also involved in checking allegations of animal mistreatment at the National Zoo, which is part of the Smithsonian.

The inspector general conducts audits and investigations to prevent and detect wrongdoing at the institution. The office issues a semiannual report to Congress and Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence M. Small.

In a short note to the staff announcing Ritt's departure, Sheila P. Burke, the deputy secretary and chief operating officer, said, "I know the Smithsonian community joins me in wishing Debra every success in her new position and thanking her for her service to the Institution."

While Ritt also said she wanted to "spend time with family," it sounds like the inspector general was sick and tired of a group of regents selling the history of the United States to a network that is better known as "the sexy network without The Sopranos."

ZPO

Olympia, WA

July 2004

JUN 07, 2006 11:43 AM

Ah yes.. The famous "spend time with family" line. Usually that is code for: Something here is very dirty and it either can't be proven or it would be career suicide to try.

waldo

I'm lost

June 2004

JUN 07, 2006 02:33 PM

ZPO said:
Ah yes.. The famous "spend time with family" line. Usually that is code for: Something here is very dirty and it either can't be proven or it would be career suicide to try.

Or sometimes it means "They let me sneak out without actually pressing charges against me".
(NB, I am not saying anything about Ms Ritt here.)

[Edited on Jun 07, 2006 by waldo]

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NEWS: Smithsonian Inspector General Up and Quits

Christopher

Portland, OR

November 2002

JUN 07, 2006 01:02 AM

ZPO