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THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2002

A Department of Agriculture inquiry has cleared a controversial nominee of wrongdoing, Secretary Ann Veneman told a Congressional committee on Tuesday.

But the department's inspector general didn't investigate Thomas Dorr as closely as the Senate Agriculture Committee wanted. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the panel's chairman, said there were still unanswered questions about Dorr's family farm operation, which was required to pay back $17,000 in government loans after inconsistencies were discovered.

Dorr was nominated as undersecretary for rural development more than a year ago.

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