WASHINGTON (AP) — The General Services Administration executive who was responsible for a lavish, $823,000 conference in Las Vegas is no longer with the GSA, the agency confirmed Thursday.

GSA spokesman Adam Elkington would not say whether Jeffrey Neely resigned or was fired from the agency that is in charge of federal buildings and supplies.

The GSA inspector general previously referred Neely’s case to the Justice Department for a possible criminal investigation. Neely’s departure would have no effect on the Justice Department’s inquiry.

Neely had been placed on administrative leave in April as buildings commissioner for the Pacific Rim region. An inspector general’s report on waste and abuse at the 2010 Las Vegas conference sparked hearings by several congressional committees. Neely angered lawmakers by refusing to testify and asserting his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.

The scandal led to the resignation of GSA Administrator Martha Johnson, the firing of two top aides and the placing of nine others on administrative leave.

“GSA is in the process of completing its review of activities associated with the Western Regions Conference and pursuing all available avenues for appropriate disciplinary action against those responsible,” the GSA spokesman said. “Jeff Neely was placed on administrative leave based on his involvement in the WRC (Western Regions Conference). As of today, he’s no longer employed with GSA.”

The Las Vegas conference featured a clown, a mind-reader and a rap video by an employee who made fun of the spending.

Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said he would introduce legislation to deal with federal executives who refuse to cooperate with Congress.

“After some delay, Mr. Neely is rightfully no longer on the taxpayers’ tab,” Mica said. “In order to deal with this type of situation in the future, I plan to introduce legislation that will allow the immediate termination of senior level executives who violate their oaths of office by refusing to cooperate with congressional investigations or to testify before Congress.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — A House committee chairman is charging that the CIA and Defense Department jeopardized national security by cooperating too closely with filmmakers producing a movie on the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King first raised questions about the bin Laden movie last summer, but said Wednesday that newly released documents confirm his suspicions.

The filmmakers are director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal, who won Academy Awards for the motion picture “The Hurt Locker.”

Defense Department spokesman George Little said the Pentagon engages on a regular basis with the entertainment industry on movie projects, to make the films as realistic as possible.

King, a New York Republican, said that Bigelow and Boal had extremely close, unprecedented and potentially dangerous collaboration with the CIA and DOD.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A congressional ethics panel says there is substantial reason to believe Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida tried to get a business partner to lie to the Federal Election Commission.

The independent Office of Congressional Ethics transmitted its findings in January to the House Ethics Committee. The ethics committee said Wednesday it is continuing its investigation of the Republican lawmaker, but released the independent report in accordance with House rules.

The report said the partner knew that contributors to the Florida Republican were reimbursed from 2005 to 2007. The panel said Buchanan attempted to persuade the partner to falsely deny to the FEC that reimbursements were made.

Buchanan’s attorney told the Office of Congressional Ethics the allegations are false.

The report said Buchanan may have violated federal law and House rules.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee says he’s been cleared by an ethics panel in an investigation of his investment activities leading up to and surrounding Congress’ $700 billion bailout of Wall Street.

Alabama Republican Spencer Bachus said Monday that the Office of Congressional Ethics voted 6-0 on Friday to dismiss allegations that he profited from nonpublic information learned on the job.

Congress in March passed legislation explicitly banning lawmakers, the president and thousands of other federal workers from profiting from nonpublic information learned from their official duties. The bill, which is now law, also will let the public see more of government officials’ financial dealings, and view them online more frequently.

The 10-term House member easily won his March primary.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A House Committee is preparing a contempt citation against Attorney General Eric Holder as it applies pressure for more documents from a flawed gun-tracking operation.

An official of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee said Friday a final decision on issuing the citation hasn’t been made. The official, who wasn’t authorized to be quoted by name on the subject, said the citation could be avoided if the Justice Department produces documents sought by the committee.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Dianne Feinstein is asking Democratic leaders to block votes on concealed weapons bills.

At issue is legislation requiring states to honor concealed gun permits from other states.

The California Democrat says that would undermine states’ rights. Feinstein says reciprocity would allow someone to carry a concealed gun in a state where he or she would not qualify to do so.

State requirements vary widely on rules for concealed weapon permits.

Feinstein says the bills are especially harmful to domestic violence victims, because someone convicted of hurting them could then cross state lines, with a gun, to hunt them down.

Feinstein says major law enforcement groups oppose the legislation.