Free Republic

Violating its own guarantee of unprecedented transparency, the White House is blocking an investigation into the controversial firing of an inspector general who exposed one of President Obama’s political supporters—a California mayor—for misusing federal funds. First Lady Michelle Obama was reportedly behind the contentious June dismissal of AmeriCorps Inspector General Gerald Walpin and congressional investigators want to interview the aide (Jackie Norris) who may have given the order. At the time Norris was the First Lady’s chief of staff but the White House counsel’s office has blocked investigators from interviewing her, according to a national news report. Norris is currently...

Washington took note when first lady Michelle Obama suddenly sacked her chief of staff in favor of her old boss from Chicago at the beginning of June. It was widely seen as a sign that the first lady wanted to start pumping up policy as well as her biceps. The new chief of staff, Susan Sher, had helped Obama move from an unsatisfying job as a corporate lawyer grinding out billable hours to a lush, $317,000-a-year community relations job at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Sher, Senior White House Adviser Valerie Jarrett and the first lady are close friends....