Former GSA official Jeff Neely.

Former GSA official Jeff Neely. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

GSA report 'just the tip of the iceberg,' Issa says

Jeff Neely 'may be facing prison time' for taking the Fifth Amendment at a hearing.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, warned on Tuesday that the General Services Administration official in charge of organizing a Las Vegas conference that cost taxpayers over $800,000 "may be facing prison time" for taking the Fifth Amendment at a hearing on Monday.

Issa subpoenaed the official, Jeff Neely, for his role as regional commissioner in organizing a 2010 conference of the GSA’s Public Buildings Service. A GSA Inspector General's report, released earlier this month, detailed extravagant expenses for catered food, commemorative coins, bicycles, and more.

The report led to the immediate firing of two top GSA officials and prompted the resignation of GSA Administrator Martha Johnson.

“[Jeff] Neely may be facing prison time,” Issa told Fox News’ Fox and Friends. “I believe that’s the reason he chose to plead the fifth, because of questions of his personal conduct that he doesn’t want to take a chance on being asked.”

Issa added that the report on the Las Vegas conference is “just the tip of the iceberg” of wasteful spending.