Questions on Sun deal await GSA nominee

James Williams, who has been nominated to lead the General Services Administration, will likely be confirmed easily, but will first have to detail his role in controversial contract negotiations with Sun Microsystems that contributed to the ouster of his former boss.

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., postponed a planned confirmation hearing Thursday until Friday due to a scheduling problem.

But in his opening statement released Thursday, Lieberman said "It will be important for this committee to understand Mr. Williams' role, and what Mr. Williams believes could or should have done differently" in the Sun Microsystems matter.

Last year, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., charged that former GSA chief Lurita Doan in 2006 improperly pressured GSA contracting officers to accept what some considered a bad deal from the computer technology giant.

Williams, who worked under Doan, reportedly told a contracting officer that "Lurita wants this contract awarded. I want this contract awarded." In written responses to committee questions, Williams noted he had also told the contracting officers to "walk away" if they could not get a good deal.

He also said he should have "double checked that people completely understood" he would support a decision not to contract with Sun Microsystems.