The Hill News

The lead Republican investigator in the House said Wednesday he may seek answers from the Obama administration on the firing of Shirley Sherrod.

The White House apologized Wednesday to Sherrod, the U.S. Department of Agriculture official who was forced to resign because of her remarks that touched on race.

Rep. Darrell Issa (Calif.), the top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said there is a 60 percent chance he will send a letter to the White House on the matter.

He cautioned, however, that his staff has limited resources and must prioritize its agenda.

“We will look at it,” Issa told The Hill.

Issa added that if he seeks answers from the White House, the letter would be sent before the August recess. The question, Issa said, about the firing of Sherrod is, “Was it poorly done or wrongful?”

Issa noted Democrats investigated the Bush administration’s firing of nine U.S. attorneys during the last Congress.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Wednesday publicly apologized to Sherrod, but questions remain about whether someone at the White House instructed Vilsack to push Sherrod out, as Sherrod has asserted.

Gibbs said that to his knowledge, no one at the White House gave that order. Instead, Gibbs added, officials indicated they were only informed of the decision to oust Sherrod, not consulted.

The Congressional Black Caucus on Wednesday criticized Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for his “overreaction” that led to Sherrod’s dismissal.