Obama Admin Playing Hard Ball with Watchdogs – UPDATE – Walpin demands Congressional hearings
ByThe IG scandal goes beyond the firing of Gerald Walpin. The Obama administration has fired a second watch dog and is preventing a third from doing his job.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Neil Barofsky, Special Inspector General for TARP, is battling the Treasury Department who refuse to release requested documents to Barofksy.
Sen. Charles Grassley, R- Iowa, sent the letter Wednesday to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner demanding information about a “dispute over certain Treasury documents” that he said were being “withheld” from Barofsky’s office on a “specious claim of attorney-client privilege.”
A White House spokesman declined to comment, referring questions to the Treasury Department. Treasury spokesman Andrew Williams said late Wednesday that the agency would read Grassley’s letter and respond to the senator before any public comment.
Grassley has good reason for concern. Grassley’s letter stresses the importance of the ability of Inspectors General to have access to records related to the use of taxpayer funds.
The ability of Inspectors General to secure agency records subject to audit or investigation is essential to ensure the integrity and reliability of their work on behalf of Congress and the American People. The Inspectors General were created by Congress as a means to combat waste, fraud, and abuse and to be independent watchdogs ensuring that federal agencies are held accountable for their actions.
Another watchdog was fired last week for questionable reasons. From Ed Morrissey:
The third incident came last week at the International Trade Commission, where Judith Gwynne worked independent of the White House, and which will be a critical position as Obama reshapes trade arrangements around the world. An ITC employee earlier this year “forcibly removed” paperwork from Gwynne. Rather than back the IG after Grassley wrote a letter demanding answers, the political appointees at the ITC dumped her.
Starting to notice a pattern here?
What was billed as the most transparent administration ever is beginning to look like the most corrupt.
Update: Did Obama underestimate Gerald Walpin? He was interviewed by the Plum Line (via memeorandum) and there’s every indication he isn’t just going to go away.
In an interview with our reporter, Amanda Erickson, Walpin turned up the heat in a way that’s likely to earn plaudits on the right, demanding that Obama “do the right thing” and admit he made a “mistake.” He called for a hearing at which witnesses would “testify under oath as to what’s happening.” He said the matter should be left to the “good judgment” of Congress.
And one really interesting tidbit: It looks like legal groups on the right may be lining up to help his cause, just as they did with alleged victims of Clinton-era scandals. When our reporter asked him directly if groups like Judicial Watch, a major tormentor of Clinton in the 1990s, had offered their help, he refused to comment. Back to the 1990s!
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