Federal Employees Use Your Tax Dollars On eHarmony

A few days ago we told you how “Veterans Affairs employees last year racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in government credit-card bills” at places like casinos and the Sharper Image. [Mic Check]

Unfortunately, the buck doesn’t stop there. [USA Today]

Now, congressional auditors are saying the employee spending took place at not only the VA department, but at the departments of Defense and Homeland Security, as well.

The review of card spending at more than a dozen departments from 2005 to 2006 found that nearly 41 percent of roughly $14 billion in credit-card purchases, whether legitimate or questionable, did not follow procedure – either because they were not properly authorized or they had not been signed for by an independent third party as called for in federal rules to deter fraud.

For purchases over $2,500, nearly half – or 48 percent – were unauthorized or improperly received.

Among the purchases made: a $14,000 steak dinner at Ruth’s Chris in Orlando; $77,700 worth of high-end clothing for four Pentagon employees; $11,000 at a Ritz Carlton hotel for coffee and “light” refreshments for Justice Department Employees.

But here’s our favorite: A postmaster charged $1,100 over 15 months for two online services, including the Ashley Madison Agency. The expenses went unnoticed for more than a year even though he was under internal investigation for viewing pornography on a government computer. The postmaster was eventually told to repay the Internet charges but faced no disciplinary action.

We’re guessing the guy didn’t find a date…

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