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Mrs. Corcoran defended her "values-oriented" management style, saying it helps foster teamwork and efficiency. The values are called "TLC3," which stands for Teamwork, Leadership, Creativity, Communication and Conceptualization.

Deputy Auditor General Tom Coogan said the values training takes up "maybe 5 percent" of staff time.

In an interview with The Times on Saturday, Mrs. Corcoran said she does not intimidate staffers.

"I'm a passionate person, but I don't hold grudges," Mrs. Corcoran said, explaining that anyone who feels intimidated is misreading her intentions. "I honestly wish I had another personality but it's just not me."

A former senior investigator for the inspector general's office, however, said that "public floggings are commonplace over there."

"There are too many people who think this is wrong, and it needs to be stopped," the former staffer said.

A Senate aide who has seen some of the documents forwarded to Mr. Grassley said Mrs. Corcoran hired a production company to film events, such as an annual meeting that feted employees who excelled at the "values."

Several such sessions cost the inspector general's office "tens of thousands of dollars" each, the aide said. Pictures and videos of such events have reportedly been shared with Mr. Grassley's office.

Mrs. Corcoran has been the inspector general of the post office since the position was created in 1997. The department's 2002 budget was $117 million. Before taking the position, she served on then-Vice President Al Gore's National Partnership for Reinventing Government. Inspectors general serve seven-year terms.