Report says Stayman committed perjury

Investigations by the United States House Committee on Resources have alleged that former Insular Affairs Director Allen P. Stayman has committed perjury in the testimony he submitted before the investigating panel last week, according to the Evans-Novak Political Report.

Despite being found to have violated federal laws, Mr. Stayman, who announced his retirement shortly after the investigating team subpoenaed documents and hard drives, has been ironically awarded a top ambassadorship at the State Department.

At the same time, the United States Inspector General has named key officials of the interior department’s Office of Insular Affairs as among those who spearheaded a campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of the Northern Marianas by attacking Republican members of the U.S. Congress.

According to an IG investigation report, OIA Public Affairs and Policy Director David North engaged in partisan political activity and lobbying at taxpayers’ expense to discredit Republican legislators who are opposed to the Clinton Administration’s proposal to extend federal labor and immigration laws in the CNMI.

Using taxpayer funds, the IG report claimed Mr. North directly intervened in the campaigns of key members of the U.S. House of Representatives including Majority Whip Tom Delay (R-Texas), Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-California), Rep. Phil English (R-Pennsylvania), and Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-California).

In particular, Mr. North contributed opposition research and drafted press releases for their opponents, said the IG report.

“Both [Mr.] North and Mr. Stayman coordinated activities with independent groups seeking to impose U.S. labor laws on the islands. [Mr.] North even asked the Democratic National Committee to intervene in CNMI relations,” the documents stated.

The Clinton Administration has been intensifying efforts to solicit enough support on plans to change the CNMI’s semi-autonomous status, which gives it the right to establish its own labor and immigration laws.

Federal officials have been critical over the Commonwealth’s heavy reliance on nonresident workers for both its tourism and garment manufacturing industries.
CNMI enforces a less restrictive labor regulations in efforts to flourish the islands’ economy.

The IG report also found that Mr. North and Mr. Stayman went over the line in violation of the Hatch Act, which forbids the engagement of U.S. government officials in partisan political activity on government property.

The investigation of the interior department was spearheaded by House Resources Committee Chair Don Young (R-Alaska).