Former museum director to repay Smithsonian

WASHINGTON - The founding director of the National Museum of the American Indian has agreed to reimburse the Smithsonian Institution for more than $9,700 in payments.

According to an audit released Wednesday by the Smithsonian Inspector General, the payments to W. Richard West Jr. for some dinners and expenses could be considered "extravagant" for a nonprofit museum director.

The audit confirms earlier reports that the museum spent $48,500 for a portrait of West before his 2007 retirement and more than $30,000 for an eight-minute video extolling his leadership. The report said West traveled more than any other Smithsonian executive as part of his job but sometimes mixed business with personal vacations.

In a statement responding to the inspector general's report, West said he "should have exercised better judgment."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.