Obama removes AmeriCorps's IG in spat with friend

Associated Press via Yahoo ^ | Friday June 12, 2009 | Ann Sanner and Pete Yost

[bergmeid]

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says he has lost confidence in the inspector general who investigates AmeriCorps and other national service programs and has told Congress he is removing him from the position.

Obama's move follows an investigation by IG Gerald Walpin of Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, who is an Obama supporter and former NBA basketball star, into the misuse of federal grants by a nonprofit education group that Johnson headed....

[oblomov]

When Obama told him to root out “corruption”, he meant Republicans.

[Erik Latranyi]

Could this firing have been based on political motivations?

I remember a President who fired some people and was raked over the coals for it.

[usmcobra]

The Obama way of stopping corruption

quit looking for it

and get rid of all those that do look for it.

[Venturer]

When you have become President through fraud and misrepresentation, there isnt anything you cannot get away with.

We havent become Zimbabwe yet, but we are well on the way.

[paulycy]

I wonder if the fired IG can contest this or take it to court for unlawful termination?

Yeah. What kind of law is it that lets the POTUS fire the IG in the first place? There should be some independent checks and balances here somewhere.

[Girlene]

According to the article,

The president didn't offer any more explanation, but White House Counsel Gregory Craig, in a letter to Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, cited the U.S. attorney's criticism of Walpin to an integrity committee for inspectors general.

"We are aware of the circumstances leading to that referral and of Mr. Walpin's conduct throughout his tenure and can assure you that the president's decision was carefully considered," Craig wrote.

Grassley had written Obama a letter pointing to a law requiring that Congress be given the reasons an IG is fired. He cited a Senate report saying the requirement is designed to ensure that inspectors general are not removed for political reasons.

Grassley said Walpin had identified millions of dollars in AmeriCorps funds that were wasted or misspent and "it appears he has been doing a good job."

[paulycy]

Do you trust Chuck Grassley? He seems pretty squishy to me but maybe I don’t know him well enough.

[Texas Fossil]

Amazing, they are going to repay 50% of the money, but they did nothing wrong.

—

The U.S. attorney’s office reached a settlement in the matter. Brown cited press accounts that said Johnson and the nonprofit would repay half of nearly $850,000 in grants it received.

Kevin Heistand, 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.”

Ken Bach, who works in the inspector general’s office at the corporation, will be acting inspector general until Obama appoints someone to the position.

—

Question-

Does the Inspector General’s office have employees (ie. KenBach) within AmeriCorp?

This does not pass the smell test.

[ninonitti]

Squishy or not he’s been one of the few down there who appears to have taxpayer’s interests in mind. He and his staff dig up alot of stuff..........

[HighlyOpinionated]

Vindictive little SOB isn’t he?

He’s afraid of the Truth which is why the Birth Certificate issue is such a big deal to him.

[Mouton]

There is, he is supposed to report to congress on the reason for the firing.

Try to find anything out about this and you get the same AP story recast in each of the media accounts.

While there may not have been enough evidence gathered regarding criminal actions, it seems to me if the target repaid almost half of the grant money, something was amiss if only a civil matter. Furthermore, misuse of tax exempt funds is also a tax matter.

Vince

[piytar]

Did you get the memo? zero is above the law. I mean, he’s “sorta God” (Newsweek).

Sooner or later - probably sooner - he’s going to overstep badly. Although I don’t know what it is going to take since he’s already abrogated bankruptcy law, contract law, Constitutional law, and now anti-corruption law.

[paulycy]

He and his staff dig up alot of stuff..........

Cool. That's what I like to hear. If Grassley's a stand-up guy then I feel a bit better about this.

[paulycy]

iTry to find anything out about this and you get the same AP story recast in each of the media accounts.

pCaught in the old echo chamber? Figures...:0/

[BilLies]

Go to the local paper, there is plenty there and it “aint” pretty.

[mikey_hates_everything]

Well, we’ve got the corruption and the taxes are on the way. All we need now are salt-encrusted rusted-out cars, pot-holed roads, and crappy winter weather nationwide...

Everyone, welcome to Chicago.

[steve8714]

No, just enforce the old “steps” and “double dribble” rules.
Do you think these guys could stand up to a Bob Petit or Nate Thurmond elbow?

[Girlene]

Do you trust Chuck Grassley?

Not necessarily. I was pointing out that their is law that requires Congress be given specific reasons an IG is fired. Obama's lawyer's, Craig, response was merely to say Obama had "carefully considered" the decision. That's pretty much saying nothing. Grassley et al need to follow up on Obama's refusal to answer to the law.

[paulycy]

Grassley et al need to follow up on Obama's refusal to answer to the law.

This matter deserves watching on several levels. We'll see how corrupt the IG process is.

[The Duke]

Saturday Night Massacre all over again.