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Politics : Liberalism: Do You Agree We've Had Enough of It? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JakeStraw who wrote (75196)	11/13/2009 6:34:36 PM
From: lorne	Respond to of 224745

Investigation vindicates inspector general Fired by Obama, Walpin says now he wants job back November 12, 2009 © 2009 WorldNetDaily wnd.com A U.S. inspector general who was fired by President Barack Obama – after crossing the president politically – reports he's been cleared by an investigation and now he wants his job back. WND reported earlier when Obama came under fire for allegedly canning Inspector General Gerald Walpin, who filed several reports on the alleged misappropriation of federal AmeriCorps funds by former basketball star Kevin Johnson, a prominent Obama supporter. At the time, Walpin told WND, "I will tell you that [my firing] came only after we had issued those two reports to Congress, and I don't think that's a coincidence. I am convinced that I and my office are not guilty of any impropriety. In essence, I was fired for doing my job." According to a report in the Sacramento Bee now, Walpin confirmed he's been cleared of claims he overstepped his authority in the investigation. "It certainly is a vindication that I and my office – and it was mainly my office, the career staff – acted properly in connection with the investigation into St. HOPE," Walpin told the newspaper. "It takes away any basis belatedly set forth by the White House as a reason for my termination." Walpin was inspector general for the Corporation for National and Community Service and dug into the use of federal money by St. HOPE and Johnson while Johnson was running for mayor in 2008. The organization, founded by Johnson, runs schools, a development company and other outreaches, including an urban program. Johnson actively supervised its operations until stepping down to run in campaign for mayor. Walpin's investigations alleged St. HOPE used federal money to run personal errands for Johnson and to improperly pay for salaries for school workers. Lawrence G. Brown, the acting U.S. attorney at the time, reviewed Walpin's allegations and said there wasn't anything criminal, so he agreed to a settlement in the civil arena that involved repaying about $400,000 in AmeriCorps funding. Walpin publicly criticized the result, saying the decision against criminal charges followed "political considerations" and Brown responded with claims Walpin overstepped his responsibilities. An investigation was launched by the Council on the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and Obama, not waiting for the results, fired Walpin. Obama explained Walpin was "confused" and "disoriented" but Walpin immediately appeared on television, including the Glenn Beck show on Fox, responding quickly, accurately and coherently to a long list of instructions and questions, undermining Obama's claim. The Bee report also said federal officials have closed the investigation into St. HOPE without charges. The allegations were that those linked to the case deliberately deleted e-mails even though they knew they were being sought by investigators. "We're pleased that the FBI has determined what we knew all along – that there was no intentional wrongdoing by the mayor or anyone at St. HOPE," mayoral spokesman Steve Maviglio told the newspaper. WND later reported that Democrats in Congress proposed a plan to make several U.S. inspectors general currently appointed by federal agency heads presidential appointees instead. An editorial published in the Washington Times blasted the plan to convert five more IGs to presidential picks: "Such a move would undermine independent oversight of large parts of the federal bureaucracy," the editorial stated. "These changes would only serve to further politicize these positions." The editorial added, "Now is not a wise time to remove independent review of the government leviathan."