In lieu of these findings, give Gerard Walpin his job back and add this to the list of matters to investigate the Obama administration on.
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM
Excerpts:
“A joint report released today by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Senate Finance Committee Republican report offers new insight into the political maneuvering at the White House to remove the Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Gerald Walpin. On the heels of tough oversight by Walpin, and efforts to hold senior officials at CNCS accountable for treating lightly a friend and political crony of the President – Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson – for mismanaging charter school funds and exhibiting inappropriate sexual conduct toward students, Walpin was fired by White House lawyer Norm Eisen in contravention of the Inspector General Act….
The 62 page report, titled ‘The Firing of the Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service,’ details how prominent allies of the President were able to effectuate Walpin’s removal absent a thorough White House review. The report further describes how the White House Counsel’s Office withheld information from Congress and misled investigators after Rep. Issa and Sen. Grassley questioned the President’s methods and motives for removing Walpin….
House and Senate investigators interviewed all nine members of the CNCS Board, CNCS Acting Chief Executive Officer Nicola Goren, former Chief Executive Officer David Eisner, General Counsel Frank Trinity, Inspector General Gerald Walpin, and Deputy IG Jack Park. Investigators also reviewed thousands of pages of documents, including e-mails, letters, memoranda, Board meeting notes, print and television media reports, and public records.
The documents and interviews show that during the period between May 20, 2009, and Walpin’s removal on June 10, 2009, the White House received substantive input from only three people: Chairman Solomont, a prominent Democrat fundraiser, Acting CEO Goren and General Counsel Trinity. Both Goren and Trinity were targets of the IGs criticism. The White House did not seek substantive input from the Board and did not interview anyone in the Inspector General’s Office. By selectively interviewing only Walpin’s adversaries, any investigation the White House did was a sham.
The report released to today includes new and deeply disturbing details about the circumstances that led to the White House confrontation of Walpin:”
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