White House, GAO Debate Vandalism; Report: 2001 Damage Was Possibly Typical

A government investigation, prompted by Bush administration charges that aides to President Bill Clinton vandalized the White House as they left, found at least $19,000 in damage but concluded it may have been typical of recent outgoing administrations.

The 217-page report was released yesterday by the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, capping a dispute that began in the first few days of the Bush administration when officials found evidence of pranks and vandalism.

The GAO based its damage estimate of at least $19,000 on the funds needed to repair…