An internal investigation has found no basis for the anonymous charges that Acting FDA commissioner Lester Crawford had an extramarital affair with an agency employee or acted inappropriately because of such a relationship, the Associated Press reported this afternoon.
The inquiry by the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services did however cite inconsistencies in the manner in which the woman was promoted and assistance that Crawford may have given her, the AP report said. The identity of the woman has not been disclosed.
Sen. Mike Enzi, a Wyoming Republican, told Reuters he had “full confidence” in Crawford’s ability to lead the FDA and would move forward as soon as possible with Crawford’s nomination to serve as permanent FDA commissioner.
However, it remains unclear if the nomination would get the full vote of the Senate.
Democratic senators, Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Patty Murray of Washington, have promised to place a hold on the nomination and have criticized the FDA for not allowing over-the-counter sales of the Barr Laboratories’ Plan-B contraceptive.
Crawford cleared of affair allegations
An internal investigation has found no basis for the anonymous charges that Acting FDA commissioner Lester Crawford had an extramarital affair with an agency employee or acted inappropriately because of such a relationship, the Associated Press reported this afternoon.
