Posted on 06/12/2014 2:52:43 PM PDT by jazusamo
A former EPA official tied to a controversy over allegations of federal overreach at an Alaska mine project has mysteriously gone off the grid, sources tell FoxNews.com, complicating lawmakers' efforts to question him.
Emails from Phillip North, a now-retired Environmental Protection Agency employee, recently surfaced that seem to show the Alaska-based biologist tried to get the Pebble Mine project killed as far back as 2008. Those emails -- and memos indicating government officials worked early on with tribal leaders and environmental groups to oppose the venture -- raised questions about the agency's claims that when it ultimately vetoed the gold-and-copper mine project, it did so based on scientific evidence.
Emails from North’s account show that he “appeared to have played a key role in the EPA’s decision to pursue a veto,” Caitlin Carroll, a spokeswoman for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, told FoxNews.com.
But the committee is having a tough time finding North. His lawyers apparently know where he is, but Congress does not.
Carroll said North's disappearing act is "highly unusual."
Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, had sent North a July 29, 2013 letter asking him to voluntarily come in for an interview. Multiple email exchanges between congressional staffers and North to set a date and time that would accommodate his schedule have been documented.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Throw their asses in jail until they disclose his whereabouts.
He’s probably just out walkin’ the Appalachian Trail!
*SMIRK*
WHY are these people on the payroll ?
Why is their staff on the payroll ?
What DO these guys actually KNOW ?
Beam me up, Mr Speaker ... there's no hope for a nation that has a combined congress of 300 or 400 people and no one knows what's going on
Agreed, it would definitely give him an incentive to talk to Congress, start by subpoenaing his lawyer.
Yep, SLOWLY. lol
Maybe _Resident 0bama will find him...after he reads about it in the newspapers, of course! ;)
Will there ever be any arrests ever made at the criminal EPA?
I doubt it but it’s a very rich target environment, maybe one day someone will surface with some cajones.
There is that small matter of Attorney Client privilege.
I Congress wanted to talk to me, they can pay for my time and travel or take testimony over Skype...
Attorney Client privilege trumps even a Congressional subpoena
Which is precisely why the term
“Inherent Contempt”
should be brought up at every chance. Congress should do it’s job and JAIL every last person that refuses to talk.
If the man is avoiding a legal summons to court (or congress) I would think that privilege didn’t apply as they would be helping him commit a crime. I am sure it is more intricate than that but I imagine a dem led congress would play hardball as I want the republicans to do.
Avoiding service is not a crime, particularly in a civil suit.
As for criminalizing lawyers, most pols are lawyers, they would not go there.
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