Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 20, 1992 TAG: 9203200112
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short
Rota, who resigned on his 57th birthday, ran a mail facility that has seen three former employees recently plead guilty to embezzlement and a fourth awaiting trial on that charge.
U.S. postal inspectors also have received statements from at least one employee of drug dealing and use by employees of the facility. The U.S. attorney's office said its criminal investigation is continuing, while a House Administration Committee task force is probing allegations of mismanagement.
The Washington Times reported Thursday that there was an illegal check-cashing operation at the post office, a contractor for the U.S. Postal Service. It said congressional and law enforcement officials found that members reportedly cashed personal checks and campaign checks at the postal facility.
On March 12, House Sergeant-at-Arms Jack Russ, who ran the chamber's former bank, resigned after the ethics committee found he misused his office.
Speaker Thomas Foley, D-Wash., told reporters that Rota "had been talking for some time" about retiring. "I don't think there's any connection . . . at all" with the latest news reports.
Foley said of the resignation, "I did not request it. There's no spreading scandal here. This is not a matter that has suddenly come to public attention."
Keywords:
HEADSHOT OF ROTA
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.