The General Accounting Office, an investigative arm of Congress, said today that ''damage, theft, vandalism and pranks did occur in the White House complex'' in the presidential transition from Bill Clinton to George W. Bush. The agency put the cost at $13,000 to $14,000, including $4,850 to replace computer keyboards, many with damaged or missing W keys. Some of the damage, it said, was clearly intentional. Glue was smeared on desk drawers. Messages disparaging President Bush were left on signs and in telephone voice mail. A few of the messages used profane or obscene language. Go To Site

''Any intentional damage at the White House complex, which is a national treasure, is both inappropriate and a serious matter,'' the report said. ''The theft of or willful damage to government property would constitute a criminal act.'' Go To Site

''The Clinton administration treated the White House worse than college freshmen checking out of their dorm rooms,'' Barr said Tuesday. ''They disgraced not just themselves but the institution and the office of the presidency as well.'' Go To Site

Defacing the White House, America

Democrat, Crime, Character, Degeneracy, Vandalism, Theft

The letter “W” had been removed from the keyboards, historic artifacts had been stolen, 20% of the furniture was overturned, walls were painted with obscene graffiti and office equipment was sabotaged. In addition to insulting messages left for the incoming President on walls, cabinets, toilets and voicemails, there are stories that the carpeting was soiled by something more than just your normal wear and tear.

Clinton Transition Left $15,000 Damage, GAO Says

Democrat, Crime, Character, Vandalism, Theft

Rep. Bob Barr (R-Ga.) asked the General Accounting Office last June to look into allegations that Clinton staffers had ripped phone cords from walls, left obscene voicemail messages, defaced bathrooms and vandalized computer keyboards by removing the ''W'' keys when they left the White House. A number of items, including a 12-inch presidential seal and several antique doorknobs, were assumed stolen.

White House Vandalized In Transition, G.A.O. Finds

Democrat, Crime, Character, Vandalism

The accounting office confirmed that $9,324 had been spent to repair or replace various items and to clean offices. That included $4,850 for 62 keyboards, $2,040 for 26 cellphones and $1,150 for professional cleaning. In addition, the White House and the General Services Administration estimated that it cost $3,750 to $4,675 to replace missing doorknobs, medallions and office signs and the large presidential seal, the accounting office said.

Clinton offers to pay for staff vandalism

Democrat, Crime, Character, Vandalism, Theft

BILL CLINTON, the former president, is offering to repay the cost of "vandalism" by his outgoing staff when they left their offices last weekend, once he is given a full reckoning from the Bush White House of the damage allegedly done. Mr Clinton's offer follows reports, initially confirmed by a spokesman for George W Bush, that officials vandalised the White House before they departed, then stripped Air Force One of anything that would serve as a souvenir during the former president's final flight last weekend.