Bush Aides Charge Vandalism

Some Bush administration staffers say they moved into their new offices to find numerous acts of apparent vandalism and they blame it on outgoing aides to President Clinton.

The Bush aides have grumbled that glass desktops were broken, keyboards doused with fluids and stripped of "W" keys and tags identifying phones numbers switched.

The new administration is asking the staffers to report any suspected vandalism, but a spokesman said Thursday he doubts anything will be done with the findings.

"What we are doing is cataloging that which took place," White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said. He refused to say what acts of vandalism had been reported, the extent of any damage or even why the review was being conducted.

"I don't think anything will ever come of it," he said. "Part of changing the tone in Washington is to allow some things that others may have made a focus of, to let pass."

Karen Tramontano, the counselor to President Clinton's chief of staff, John Podesta, said she was in the White House West Wing and adjacent office buildings late the night before Mr. Clinton left office, and saw no vandalism.

"We left everything in good condition," she said. "We all left our offices intact."

However, several former officials in the Clinton administration told The Washington Post that some pranks were played on the incoming Republicans, but they say nothing malicious was intended.

The actions were meant to be humorous or expressed the frustration of White House staffers who were losing their jobs, the Democratic officials said.

The Bush administration said they didn't find the alleged vandalism funny and say it will cost taxpayer money to clean up and repair.

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