AP News, November 9th, 2007
A top immigration official acknowledged on Thursday that she should not have praised an employee who wore an escaped prisoner costume to an agency event on Halloween.
Julie Myers, director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, offered the mea culpa in a letter to Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.
The senator had asked Myers to answer several questions about the costume worn to a charity fundraiser at the agency's headquarters.
The employee wore dreadlocks, dark makeup and prison stripes. Myers and two other managers awarded him "most original costume" and Myers posed for a photo with him.
"Although I was not aware at the time of the contest that the employee disguised his skin color, I believe that it was inappropriate for me to recognize any individual wearing an escaped prisoner costume," Myers said.
Myers' agency is responsible for arresting and jailing immigrants in the United States.
Myers apologized last week to headquarters employees after receiving complaints about the costume. But she only apologized at the time for the presence of costumes that some employees found inappropriate and offensive.
Myers faces a possible Senate vote on her nomination next week and the incident has raised concerns about her judgment among some members, including McCaskill.
President Bush originally placed Myers in her job through a recess appointment after Democrats cited her lack of experience and her family ties. She is the niece of retired Gen. Richard B. Myers, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She also is married to John Wood, former chief of staff to Michael Chertoff, the homeland security secretary. Myers' agency is part of Homeland Security.
Myers also was doing damage control with members of the House and Senate Homeland Security committees.
She provided a briefing for staff of the Senate committee Thursday and had met with Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the House committee chairman.
McCaskill said Myers' explanation showed some progress. But it did not appear to have persuaded McCaskill to support Myers' nomination.
The employee who wore the inmate costume was placed on paid leave. Chertoff says the incident is being investigated.
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On the Net:
Immigration and Customs Enforcement: http://www.ice.gov
Sen. Claire McCaskill: http://mccaskill.senate.gov/
