Scholarship Questions Remain Unanswered

The initial furor over misdirected scholarship funds has subsided. But plenty of questions remain unanswered in the saga of Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

What will the foundation do to guard against self-dealing in the future? How many other lawmakers – other than Johnson and Georgia Rep. Sanford Bishop, who awarded $6,350 in scholarships to his stepdaughter and niece – steered scholarships to relatives, or the children of pals, aides or donors?

For Johnson, there are other open questions.

How did her grandsons and great-nephews find out about the scholarship program? Did she encourage them to apply? Did any current or former aides object and, if so, how were such objections handled?

The $31,000 Johnson repaid the foundation covered 23 scholarships she awarded since 2005 to two grandsons, two great-nephews, and the son and daughter of her district director in Dallas. Will they reimburse her?

The folks who could answer these questions haven’t been willing to talk.

Read more: (Todd J. Gillman, “Texas Watch: Black Caucus Scholarship Questions Remain Unanswered,” Dallas Morning News, 09/26/10)