A U.S. House Committee released an internal GSA email from July of 2011 in which a senior official at the agency raises questions about spending on a GSA conference - arguing that if it gets out in the press, it will be a public relations disaster for the GSA.

In the email, Deputy Administrator Susan Brita says there should be more substantive internal punishment for those responsible for the conference, saying it would never survive an article in the Washington Post.

"Furthermore, expenses for a clown suit, bikes, tuxedos, and mind reader don't really lend themselves to a claim of a substantive conference," wrote Brita.

Here is the e-mail released by the Oversight and Government Reform Committee which holds a hearing on Monday on GSA spending:

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From: Susan Brita
Sent: Friday, July 08, 2011 01:43 PM
To: Robert Peck
Cc: Stephen Leeds; David Foley
Subject: Re: Neely letter
Date: Fri Jul 08 2011 17:41:24 EDT
Attachments:
Bcc:

Bob [Peck]- according to the IG they didnt' find any agenda that would support comments about substance and important issues. Furthermore, expenses for a clown suit, bikes, tuxedos, and mind reader don't really lend themselves to a claim of a substantive conference. I think the letter to Jeff should be crafted with a WAPO mind frame. If this story of GSA (federal workers) spending "almost a million dollars" (and I have no doubt that is how the Post would report the event) at a time of high unemployment, and down economy were to hit the press what would public reaction by, what would congressional reaction be, and how would the agency respond (especially the political leadership). Jeff is a seasoned SES who is expected to display the highest standards of common sense, and prudent financial management. He did neither. Sorry, but your letter is not even a slap on the wrist.