Head of Rove Inquiry in Hot Seat Himself

Wall Street Journal (no subscription) ^ | November 28, 2007 | John R. Wilke

[CutePuppy]

Bloch Used Private Company, Geeks on Call, to Delete Files On His Office Computer

By JOHN R. WILKE
November 28, 2007; Page A6

WASHINGTON -- The head of the federal agency investigating Karl Rove's White House political operation is facing allegations that he improperly deleted computer files during another probe, using a private computer-help company, Geeks on Call.

Scott Bloch runs the Office of Special Counsel, an agency charged with protecting government whistleblowers and enforcing a ban on federal employees engaging in partisan political activity. Mr. Bloch's agency is looking into whether Mr. Rove and other White House officials used government agencies to help re-elect Republicans in 2006.

At the same time, Mr. Bloch has himself been under investigation since 2005. At the direction of the White House, the federal Office of Personnel Management's inspector general is looking into claims that Mr. Bloch improperly retaliated against employees and dismissed whistleblower cases without adequate examination.

Recently, investigators learned that Mr. Bloch erased all the files on his office personal computer late last year. They are now trying to determine whether the deletions were improper or part of a cover-up, lawyers close to the case said.

Bypassing his agency's computer technicians, Mr. Bloch phoned 1-800-905-GEEKS for Geeks on Call, the mobile PC-help service. It dispatched a technician in one of its signature PT Cruiser wagons. In an interview, the 49-year-old former labor-law litigator from Lawrence, Kan., confirmed that he contacted Geeks on Call but said he was trying to eradicate a virus that had seized control of his computer.

Mr. Bloch said no documents relevant to any investigation were affected. He also says the employee claims against him are unwarranted.

.....

[FormerACLUmember]

Democrat party operative under investigation. Runs like a cockroach from the light. Bush’s biggest failure was his refusal to purge the government of these internal democrat party enemies.

[gusopol3]

how do you know he’s D? Just because he’s from Lawrence, like Madison, Wisconsin or Ithaca NY?

[sure_fine]

so he is boarding up his glass house

[AlaskaErik]

Geeks on Call?! I prefer using the Nerd Herd myself.

[calcowgirl]

Scott Bloch was a Bush appointee.

[doodad]

And how did Geeks on Call get access and clearance to even look at this computer?

[Glenn]

and enforcing a ban on federal employees engaging in partisan political activity

Best of luck with that part of the job.

[doodad]

I kind of like it. We could reduce the government down to maybe Constitutionally mandated levels.

[Timeout]

The total charge [for Geeks on Call] was $1,149, paid with an agency credit card, the receipt shows.

That's the part that makes me sick. All those fed employees with their own personal credit card. Obviously, they're not required to get preapproval before charging $1000+. Whatever they can self-justify...just charge it.

[Edit35]

Scott Bloch was a Bush appointee.

Bush's biggest problems arose when he hired these wishy washy 'moderate' types... in the mistaken belief their 'progressive' positions would endear Bush to OTHER moderates and Democrats.

Think: Colin Powell, Harriet Myers, Scott McClellan, etc.

All ended up becoming wimps and turncoats.

Well, not so much Harriet Myers -- but she was AWFUL anyway.

[SueRae]

A fox smells his own hole. Priceless

[BluH2o]

Mr. Bloch said no documents relevant to any investigation were affected. He also says the employee claims against him are unwarranted.

It's the appearance of impropriety that's at stake here ... how many times do gov't types have to learn that lesson?

[zip]

ping

[Thrownatbirth]

Jeff Phelps, who runs Washington's Geeks on Call franchise, declined to talk about specific clients, but said calls placed directly by government officials are unusual.

That's good that Jeff won't lose much business because I can practically write the gov't memo that's coming out in my head.

[freekitty]

I agree.

[Raycpa]

If you want to delete damaging files from your computer call an outside contractor to come in and do it for you. Yep, sounds suspicious to me.

[ReignOfError]

Democrat party operative

He's a Bush appointee, and before his current gig was appointed to head up faith-based initiatives in the DoJ. He's under fire for allegedly failing to investigate discrimination claims by gat federal employees. Where are you getting the idea that he's a Democratic party operative?

[knarf]

"Bush’s biggest failure was his refusal to purge the government of these internal democrat party enemies."

We were all SO waiting for something to happen after President Bush was inaugurated, but nothing seemed to develope ... I guess we were in a 'winding down from the high because it's the same old/same old' when we were viciously attacked by an insidious enemy.

[doodad]

In my workplace that would get you fired. I assume this person won’t even get a sharply worded letter in his file.

And $1200 for disk erasure??????? Please! Either there is more here than being told (ahem) or Geeks has a very healthy labor rate.