P.M. BRIEFING : Pierce Declares ‘No Illegal Acts,’ Invokes Fifth Amendment Rights

WASHINGTON — Former HUD Secretary Samuel R. Pierce today declared, “I committed no illegal or wrongful acts” while in office, but he again invoked his Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination, refusing to answer questions from Congress about scandals in federal housing programs during his tenure.

Rep. Tom Lantos (D-San Mateo) said his subcommittee’s investigation into influence-peddling, fraud and mismanagement at HUD will end after several scheduled hearings and he would not offer immunity to two former Pierce aides who refused to testify.

The subcommittee hearings have “demonstrated a colossal scandal” at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Lantos declared, and two panel members said they are seeking a special prosecutor to investigate Pierce.

The panel has heard scores of developers and consultants detail political favoritism and mismanagement at HUD during Pierce’s tenure but has heard little from former top agency officials of that period.