Bush administration official Alphonso Jackson under FBI investigation

October 5, 2007

Washington, DC - The FBI is investigating ties between Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson and a friend, who was hired and then paid about $400,000 as the construction manager of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) project in New Orleans.

The FBI is investigating ties between Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson and a friend, who was hired and then paid about $400,000 as the construction manager of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) project in New Orleans.

The New York Times reports that the investigation centers in part on whether Jackson was fully truthful in Congressional testimony and in interviews with federal investigators when he said he had not steered housing contracts to friends and administration supporters.

Jackson acknowledged the probe on the HUD Web site. "I intend to fully cooperate with any possible investigation, and to clear my name," Jackson said.

The FBI and Justice Department declined to comment.

The National Journal which first reported the probe identified Jackson's friend as Hilton Head Island, South Carolina contractor William Hairston.

The magazine's Web site said Hairston was granted a no-bid contract after Jackson asked an aide to pass along Hairston's name to the Housing Authority of New Orleans.