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 The Ex-Im Bank, which helps finance exports of U.S. goods and
services, issued a statement declining comment on "personnel
matters" and saying it has "a comprehensive system of internal
controls."
The Journal, citing unidentified sources familiar with the matter,
reported that Johnny Gutierrez, an official in the Ex-Im Bank's
short-term trade finance division, allegedly took cash payments in
exchange for attempting to assist a Florida company in getting
federal financing to export construction equipment to Latin America.
The newspaper quoted Douglas McNabb, Gutierrez's lawyer, as
confirming that Gutierrez was placed on leave after an investigation
by the agency's inspector general, but said he declined to comment
on details of the probe.
Two of the other officials were being investigated over allegations
of improperly awarding contracts while the third was being
investigated over accusations of "accepting gifts on behalf of a
company seeking financing," the newspaper reported.
The report comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of the Ex-Im Bank
as U.S. lawmakers debate whether to reauthorize the 80-year-old
agency. The newly elected No. 2 Republican in the House of
Representatives said on Sunday he opposed renewing its charter.
"The Export-Import Bank has zero tolerance for waste, fraud and
abuse. Due to provisions of the Privacy Act, we are prohibited from
commenting on any specific personnel matters," Ex-Im Bank spokesman
Matt Bevens said in a statement.
"That said, the Export-Import Bank takes extremely seriously its
commitment to taxpayers and its mission to support U.S. jobs. The
Bank takes thorough and immediate action when any hint of misconduct
or fraud is detected by the safeguards we have in place, including
working closely with our Inspector General," Bevens said.
The Ex-Im Bank statement said it operates a confidential fraud,
waste and abuse hot line to allow anonymous reporting and that its
management "acts quickly to enforce and prosecute wrongdoing."
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Representative Kevin McCarthy, the incoming House majority leader,
said on Sunday the bank's role should be taken over by the private
sector. Asked if he would allow the bank's charter to expire at the
end of September, McCarthy said: "Yes, because it's something that
the private sector can be able to do."
The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Jeb
Hensarling, previously called on fellow Republicans to oppose
renewing the charter. He said the bank helps some companies at the
expense of others.
Hensarling's spokesman, David Popp, issued a statement saying Fred
Hochberg, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank, "should
come fully prepared to discuss all details surrounding these
troubling accusations" during a hearing before the committee on
Wednesday.
Scrapping the bank would be a blow to Boeing Co <BA.N>, Caterpillar
Inc <CAT.N>, General Electric Co <GE.N> and other U.S. companies
that rely on Ex-Im financing to make sales in export markets where
commercial lending is scarce.
(Reporting by Will Dunham; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)
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