Third Inspector General Controversy Emerges (International Trade Commission)

ABC News ^ | June 19, 2009 | Jake Tapper

[2ndDivisionVet]

As the Obama administration faces questions about the president's firing of the Corporation for National and Community Service Inspector General last week, and about the Treasury Department challenging the independence of the Special Inspector General dedicated to federal bailout dollars for the financial bailout money, a third inspector general controversy has emerged.

This week Judith Gwynn, the Inspector General for the International Trade Commission, was told that her contract would not be renewed.

The news was delivered to Gwynn within three hours of Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, sending the chair of the ITC a letter asking about a March 5 incident when, according to Gwynn's April 2009 Semiannual Report to Congress, "in the course of conducting an investigation regarding contractor activities, certain procurement files were removed forcibly from the possession of the Inspector General by a Commission employee.”

Grassley was outraged to learn that the ITC environment was one where the Inspector General could be treated so disdainfully.

"I was disappointed to learn that, according to the report, despite being notified of this situation the ITC failed to ensure that the files were immediately returned intact and unaltered," Grassley wrote to ITC Chair Shara L. Aranoff, according to a copy of the letter obtained by ABC News. "The ability of Inspectors General to secure agency records subject to audit or investigation is essential to ensure the integrity and reliability of their work on behalf of Congress and the American People."

This Inspector General controversy is quite different from the other two, however, in its apparent lack of connection to President Obama or his administration. The White House does not appoint the inspector general of the ITC. Rather, that power is held by Aranoff, a former Democratic Senate staffer who was appointed to the position by President Bush.

[2ndDivisionVet]

It's the Chicago Way!!

[tunedin]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274839/posts

Glad to see MSM covering this.

[marron]

certain procurement files were removed forcibly from the possession of the Inspector General by a Commission employee.”

What?!!

[TribalPrincess2U]

Unbelievable!

Hold their azzes to the fire Grassley!

Is their any other (R) with nads who can join in on this
or have they all become WH whores?

[Liberty Wins]

. . .a former Democratic Senate staffer who was appointed to the position by President Bush.

When will they ever learn.

[TribalPrincess2U]

“It was a very emotionally draining meeting for me and the rest of the board members,” a panel member said. “There were several periods of time where there were one- to two-minute pauses where he clearly was confused and was not able to respond to questions and was just going through his notes…..It was painful.”

Well crap, he didn't have a teleprompter.

[Chode]

[newheart]

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

[pointsal]

Nothing like the rule of law

[BARLF]

Walpin quote: actions. "I would never say President Obama doesn't have the capacity to continue to serve because of his (statement) that there are 56 states," Walpin said, adding that the same holds for Vice President Biden and his "many express confusions that have been highlighted by the media." Obama mistakenly said once on the campaign trail that he had traveled to 57 states.

[plain talk]

Walpin quote: actions. "I would never say President Obama doesn't have the capacity to continue to serve because of his (statement) that there are 56 states,"

I would.

[HighlyOpinionated]

Reported by ABC? As a diversion or because it’s not in any way related to 0bammyslammy?

[bustinchops]

Chicago? Yeah, but ‘banana republic’ is a lot closer to the mark.

[Tzimisce]

Do any of these stories really matter?

Obama is going to walk away and be called a “hero” for it...

[Munz]

is this his waterloo?
maybe Amerika wasn’t ready for Chicago style politics and he just didn’t understand that?