Ex-HUD chief cleared in contracts probe

Former HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson was cleared Monday after a lengthy investigation of whether he used government contracts for political purposes, Reuters reported.

The Justice Department closed its probe without bringing charges, Jackson's lawyers said.

Jackson was under scrutiny after he made remarks in early 2006 that suggested he had canceled a government contract with a businessman who had criticized then-President George W. Bush. Jackson later said he had lied about the cancellation, but it prompted an investigation by the HUD inspector general. The probe found no evidence that Jackson actually took such action.

Federal law prohibits considering political affiliation when awarding contracts. Senate Democrats had sought Jackson's ouster amid allegations about the Bush administration directing contracts to political allies.

The senators had said Jackson refused to answer their questions regarding his activities in the awarding of three separate contracts and his involvement in a case of alleged retaliation against the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

The closure of the Justice Department probe without any charges showed that the allegations were without support, his lawyers said in a statement.

Jackson resigned in April 2008.