When Harley G. Lappin, the director of the Bureau of Prisons, announced his plans to retire last week after 25 years at the agency, Attorney General Eric Holder praised him as a “sound steward of taxpayer dollars” who had “served as an example of integrity and professionalism.”
But it turns out there was a bit more to the story. Andrew Ramonas of the legal news website Main Justice reports (reg. req.) that Lappin was arrested back in February and is facing drunk driving charges stemming from an incident in Annapolis, Md.
Lappin was pulled over less than a half mile from his house at 3:59 a.m. on Feb. 26, the website reported. He’s been charged with driving while under the influence, reckless driving, negligent driving and failure to obey the instructions of a traffic-control device, according to the news website. A spokeswoman said that Lappin informed his staff of the arrest.
Lappin will be due in court on June 16, a little over a month after his resignation becomes effective on May 7.
Late Update: Mike Riggs of the Daily Caller got his hands on the letter Lappin sent to BOP staffers.
“I recently allowed a lapse in my judgment to occur, giving rise to potential embarrassment to the agency, the Department of Justice, and my position of director,” Lappin wrote in the internal email sent to staffers on Tuesday which was obtained by the news website. “I was arrested for driving under the influence. I immediately notified my supervisor, as all of us are required to do, and the matter will proceed through the courts.”
