Senate Panel Advances Archivist Nominee Accused of Abusive Behavior

After allegations that Dr. Colleen Shoga had used political power in partisan manners, the Senate Homeland Security Committee voted to nominate her as Archivist of the United States.

Shogan, who previously served at the Congressional Research Service (CRS), has faced criticism over the content of her Twitter posts and reported abuses of power.

The Democrat-majority panel approved the nominee with an 8-4 vote of party-line votes.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) led the opposition to Shogan’s nomination, explaining that he had “deep reservations” Shogan’s nomination.

Accused of ‘Abusive’ and ‘Partisan’ Conduct

Hawley expressed one such reservation citing a whistleblower’s report that Shogan was being investigated “abusive” “partisan” During her time with CRS.

“The whistleblower alleges that Dr. Shogan engaged in a pattern of abusive, retaliatory, and partisan conduct during her time at the Congressional Research Service, where she directly supervised the whistleblower,” Hawley wrote a March 8 letter (D-Mich.) to Chairman Gary Peters

Shogan, for example, was allegedly made to look like a whistleblower. “unsolicited statements of support for political candidates in the workplace.”

“The whistleblower … alleges that Dr. Shogan failed to remain non-partisan and objective,” In a March 8 letter, Hawley explained. “Rather, she engaged in abuse, retaliation, and persecution. She allegedly suppressed reports requested by Congress, undermined the whistleblower’s promotion applications, and attempted to demoralize the whistleblower in an apparent effort to run her out of CRS.”

The whistleblower, who Hawley reported was disabled, said that as “part of this effort [to run the whistleblower out of CRS], Dr. Shogan allegedly colluded with others in the office to force the whistleblower, a woman with a disability, to take a detail assignment that worsened her mobility and health.”

Another whistleblower claimed that Shogan tried organizing signing events for her private book on federal property while working.

“The whistleblower alleges that Dr. Shogan attempted to organize signing events for her own book on federal property during work hours, for commercial gain, in violation of existing policies,” Hawley wrote.

This allegation is not specific. Shogan wrote several books and articles, including one that attacked the modern Republican Party. “anti-intellectual.”

Accused of ‘Lying to the Committee’

Hawley noted at the end of the hearing that Shogan made untrued statements to the committee regarding her tweets.

“We have a pattern from this nominee of stonewalling this committee, misleading this committee, and now she’s faced some very disturbing whistleblower allegations,” Hawley stated, citing Shogan’s past appearances before the same panel.

The now-retired Senator. Rob Portman (R.Ohio), discovered that Shogan had posted inflammatory and partisan messages to her Twitter account. Shogan had already made her Twitter page private by the time she appeared before this panel. This meant that only Shogan approved users could view the tweets.

Shogan denied Portman access to the posts when he requested it.

Hawley requested access to the tweets in the same month.

“During your testimony, several Senators raised concerns about public posts you made on Twitter,” Hawley spoke at the time. “You have since locked your Twitter account. Please provide copies of all posts you have ever made public on Twitter.”

Shogan replied to Hawley by stating that she had not posted anything controversial to her Twitter account, but refused Hawley’s request.

“My personal Twitter account is comprised of posts about my mystery novels, events at the White House Historical Association, Pittsburgh sports teams, travels, and my dog,” Shogan replied. “It was made private months ago. before I was nominated as Archivist.”

Hawley stated that this claim is true. “is not true.” Portman’s investigation revealed that he had made comments about Senator Republicans and supporters of President Donald Trump.

“She can say whatever she wants on Twitter, what she cannot do is lie to this committee,” Hawley spoke.

Shogan was unable to be reached for comment, but she maintained that the Senate should not take these allegations seriously and should proceed with her confirmation.