Back in 2002 while Carly Fiorina ran the show, Hewlett-Packard engaged in a kickback scheme to get in on government contracts. In a nutshell, HP approached procurement contractors with a sweet deal if they would use Hewlett-Packard products. Fiorina was head of HP from 1999 to 2005, so this would have been right in the middle of her tenure.
Kickbacks are illegal. You'd think Carly would have known that, but now the DOJ is collecting $55 million in settlement fees to clear it all up.
The Justice Department announced today that HP wants to settle the case alleging it paid kickbacks, or "influencer fees," to systems integrators in return for recommendations to agencies to buy their products.
Justice said in a news release that the settlement also resolves claims that HP's 2002 contract with the General Services Administration was defectively priced because HP provided incomplete information to GSA contracting officers during contract negotiations.
"Contractors must deal fairly with the government when doing business with federal agencies," said Tony West, assistant attorney general for the Civil Division at DoJ. "As this case demonstrates, we will take action against those who seek to taint the government procurement process with illegal kickbacks."
Of course, HP says the settlement does not admit illegal activity, but the DOJ had no problem calling it what it is. Now let's hope Californians see that Carly Fiorina is a corrupt self-dealer who won't do anything for this state.
