TOPICS
TOPICS
Firing of IG followed his probe of Obama friend
After criticism from a high-ranking Republican senator over President Obama's dismissal of the inspector general overseeing AmeriCorps Thursday, the White House has provided assurances that the decision was "carefully considered" and conducted in full compliance with the Inspector General Reform Act.
Gerald Walpin, inspector general for the Corporation for National and Community Service, recently spearheaded an investigation into the alleged misuse of AmeriCorps grants by a nonprofit agency run by recently elected Sacramento, Calif., Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former National Basketball Association star and a friend of Obama's.
Walpin's conduct of the investigation has been questioned by the acting U.S. attorney for Sacramento, who referred the case to an ethics panel that oversees IGs.
Obama's announcement Thursday that he intended to fire the AmeriCorps overseer prompted a fiery letter from Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, a champion of federal watchdogs, who cautioned that Obama's abrupt decision to terminate Walpin could demonstrate a threat to the independence of federal IGs.
In a written response to Grassley sent late Thursday, White House Counsel Gregory Craig attributed Walpin's dismissal to the U.S. attorney's complaint and subsequent request that his conduct of the Sacramento investigation be reviewed by the IG oversight panel.
"We are aware of the circumstances leading to that referral and of Mr. Walpin's conduct throughout his tenure and can assure you that the president's decision was carefully considered," Craig said.
Walpin's investigation of Johnson's St. HOPE nonprofit agency alleged that managers improperly diverted over $800,000 in AmeriCorps funding from 2004-2007. Federal officials subsequently determined that the allegations did not warrant criminal charges, and the mayor attributed any improprieties to "administrative errors."
St. HOPE repaid almost $425,000 in the federal funds as part of a settlement in April.
Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, said Johnson's connection to Obama warrants a hard look by lawmakers to assure the legitimacy of Walpin's dismissal.
"I hope Congress holds hearings soon," she said.
COMMENTS
- Ah, Bush supporters. Stop parroting what Rush and O'Reilly say on their entertainment shows (definitely not NEWS shows). Get over your anger. GWB's gone. His lies are history. Now it's time for this country to start growing again. OverPaid Peon Posted June 17, 2009 8:54 AM
- For "ChristmasTree," although you may want it to be, there is no Obama scandal. Walpin is done with IG duties and defending Walpin by attacking "overpaid peon" for his defense of Obama thereby indirectly attacking Obama is not valid either. I doubt if YOU know all of the detail involved in this removal from duties and like most of the political rhetorical posts here in condemnation have obviously overlooked or failed to read the reports, from both ends of the political spectrum, that were critical of Walpin and the handling of HIS investigation. The title IG did not mean that HE did not have to answer to anyone and in this case, he did answer. Then, in Donald Trump fashion, the reply was, "you"re fired." Now let's move on..... And don't cite again your load about WMD. The olfactory senses of we the masses have hardly recovered from the initial dumping of this political manure without you stirring it up again. Last, your nefarious commentary on the citizenship of a sitting U.S. President bring into question your patriotism. In fact, since this is hyperspace, it is suspect as to whether or not YOU are a citizen or even yet, a VOTER. Therefore, your questioning of whether "his regime will hurt us, not help us" which sounds like the hyperbole of those hiding in the caves of foreign lands and seeking ways to hurt the US, serves to dismiss your commentary entirely as it may be coming from one who is NOT a citizen, Not a voter, Not a patriot, and NOT friendly to the United States. Will Posted June 16, 2009 10:38 PM
- Overpaid Peon- I can see why you are overpaid. President Obama should have allowed the process for firing an IG to take place. By not allowing the proper processes to take place, he makes the firing very suspicious. Since President Obama is a friend of the Mayor, there is, at minimum, an appearance of a conflict of interest, if not an actual conflict. Concerned Citizen Posted June 16, 2009 3:19 PM
