That's the former inspector general of The Corporation for National and Community Service, Gerald Walpin. He was fired (apparently illegally) last Wednesday night after receiving a telephone call from the office of White House Counsel. It seems Mr. Walpin's investigators uncovered misuse of funds by the now mayor of Sacramento (and former point guard of the Phoenix Suns), Kevin Johnson, who happens to be a friend of President Obama. By now everyone knows those facts, but absent from most of the media coverage is the fact that the U. S. Attorney's office, to which Walpin had referred the results of his investigation for criminal prosecution, entered into settlement talks with Kevin Johnson and his former community organization, St. Hope. Walpin was not included in those settlement negotiations, which ended in an agreement whereby Johnson and St. Hope will repay half of the $850,000 in grant money received from Americorps. The money has yet to be repaid. The suspension of Johnson ordered as a result of the Walpin investigation was lifted as part of the settlement. That means that Sacramento can now receive millions in stimulus funds (money it could not have received had the Mayor remained ineligible).
Byron York has a more detailed account of this apparently illegal termination of an inspector general in The Washington Examiner. Here's a link:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Whats-behind-Obamas-sudden-firing-of-the-AmeriCorps-inspector-general-47877797.html
If the above facts do not constitute enough of a scandal, it should also be pointed out that the independence of inspectors general was, on October 14, 2008, made even more sacrosanct by the signing into law of HR 928 (S. 2324). Pertinent sections of that ACT are reproduced below, and it is important to note that one of the co-sponsors was then Senator Barrack Obama.
S. 2324:
110th Congress
2007-2008
Inspector General Reform Act of 2008
Sponsor:
Sen. Claire McCaskill [D-MO]hide cosponsors
Cosponsors [as of 2009-01-09]
Sen. Ted Stevens [R-AK]
Sen. Susan Collins [R-ME]
Sen. Norm Coleman [R-MN]
Sen. Carl Levin [D-MI]
Sen. Thomas Carper [D-DE]
Sen. Thomas Coburn [R-OK] (withdrawn)
Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY]
Sen. Charles Grassley [R-IA]
Sen. Daniel Akaka [D-HI]
Sen. Joseph Lieberman [I-CT]
Sen. Barack Obama [D-IL]
An Act
To amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to enhance the independence of the Inspectors General, to create a Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[*1] SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Inspector General Reform Act of 2008".
[*3] SEC. 3. REMOVAL OF INSPECTORS GENERAL.
(a) Establishments.--Section 3(b) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking the second sentence and inserting "If an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a personnel action otherwise authorized by law, other than transfer or removal.".
(b) Designated Federal Entities.--Section 8G(e) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking "shall promptly communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of the Congress." and inserting "shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a personnel action otherwise authorized by law.
