Posted on 06/12/2009 1:40:23 PM PDT by Big_Monkey
WASHINGTON An inspector general fired by President Barack Obama says he acted "with the highest integrity" in investigating AmeriCorps and other government-funded national service programs.
Gerald Walpin's job was to review grants awarded by AmeriCorps and its parent agency, the Corporation for National and Community Service. He told The Associated Press he has no doubt he acted properly in investigating Sacramento mayor and former NBA star Kevin Johnson.
Obama told Congress on Thursday he had lost confidence in Walpin.
As a result of Walpin's investigation, Johnson and the nonprofit St. HOPE Academy that he headed were ordered to repay about half of nearly $847,000 in federal grants they had received from AmeriCorps. Johnson is a political supporter of Obama.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
You don’t actually look into what 0bama’s projects are doing. Silly IG. That’s how you get fired in a banana republic.
Openness in government is not a strong suit of this Administration.
Plus, the law protecting Inspector Generals’ was an ethics topic in his speeches and he voted for it. Then he violated it with this action.
Don’t think we’ll see a trial though for braking the law.
.....another white guy gets fired by the little emperor?
Obama does not even care anymore-the press will cover everything up. This is pure evil
Nothing new here, the same old Double Standard.
Openness in government??
we have Czars for crying out loud
Obama’s days are numbered he is a flaming clown, the last one out of the car in the circus.
The IG (Walpin) found that Johnson, a former all-star point guard for the Phoenix Suns, had used AmeriCorps grants to pay volunteers to engage in school-board political activities, run personal errands for Johnson and even wash his car.
The U.S. attorney's office reached a settlement that requires the St. HOPE Academy to repay nearly $424,000 almost half of the $850,000 it received in return for the government lifting its suspension on future grants.
Brown said at the time of the settlement that prosecutors determined there was no fraud, but rather a culture of "sloppiness" in St. HOPE's record-keeping.
Kevin Hiestand, chairman of the board of St. HOPE Academy, said in a statement it was "about time" Walpin was removed. "Mr. Walpin's allegations were meritless and clearly motivated by matters beyond an honest assessment of our program," he said.
Yea, thats why you reached a settlement to pay almost half of it back to sweep it under the rug.
Another source says Michelle is now running the corporation.
One of the first acts of Bill Clinton was to fire EVERY US ATTORNEY (93?). After all, they serve at the pleasure of the president.
Pardon my ignorance. Does IG Walpin serve at the president’s pleasure?
I wish you were right but I don't think you are. There are only a handful of us paying attention.
It's complicated. The Inspectors General Reform Act (which Obama co-sponsored last year) outlines what the specifics of removal are. But, the short answer I believe is yes, they serve at the pleasure of the President - with some conditions for removal.
Here's a link to the law if you want to read it. It's wordy, like all laws...
That is exactly the problem. Acting with integrity is not part of O’s agenda.
Czars are not open government ... they are closed controlling government. Just like the old Soviet Union system (Lenin and Stalin).
Government planned economy, where the gov’t government controls determine business ownership, profits and resource allocations. Oh, least I forget ... salaries too.
Lets not forget the Soviet leadership by example in programs and purges. That will be seen too also.
Oh and universal health care and dachas for out bureaucrats too.
(1) A former NBA star is involved.
(2) The President appears to have tried to bully Walpin into a quick resignation.
(3) The accused Inspector General was investigating a big Obama supporter.
(4) The acting US Attorney is accusing the Inspector General of misconduct.
(5) The accused agency has agreed to pay back $400,000 to the government and made no effort to deny wrongdoing.
(6) No one involved has a clean exit strategy, so there will be a lot of the "he said / she said" dialog that talking heads love to play.
Get out your popcorn.
exactly. Czars are the opposite of open government and Constitutional rule
That is exactly what I said and I meant when I wrote ... Open Government is not a strong suit of this Administration, the Obama Administration.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.