Obama Fires Inspector General

Former AmeriCorps Official Says Obama Removed Him for 'Doing My Job'
Gerald Walpin was removed by President Obama last week as the inspector general for AmeriCorps and other service programs. His decision followed Walpin's investigation into the alleged misuse of federal grants by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA star and an Obama supporter, and the nonprofit education group he headed.

FOXNews.com

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Gerald Walpin, shown here, was the inspector general for the Corporation for National and Community Service until last week.

An official responsible for monitoring how federal funds for volunteerism are spent told FOX News he was fired by President Obama for doing his job, and suggested it was payback for investigating the alleged misuse of grant money by the Sacramento mayor, an Obama backer.

Gerald Walpin, who until last week was the chief internal watchdog for AmericCorps and other service programs, suggested "political pressure" was behind his ouster. He said he worried the action will have a "chilling effect" on other inspectors general.

Obama gave little explanation for the decision, writing in a letter sent Thursday that he no longer had the "fullest confidence" in Walpin.

The president's decision followed Walpin's investigation into the alleged misuse of federal grants by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA star and an Obama supporter who heads a nonprofit education group.

"I am the victim of being fired because I was doing my job and doing it properly," Walpin told FOX News Tuesday. He said he could not let concern for "political pressure" interfere with his staff's pursuit of the investigation -- noting that it was his staff, not him personally, that pursued the inquiry.

He also defended the findings, saying AmeriCorps requested the investigation in the first place.

Walpin said the probe revealed that Johnson "misused" AmeriCorps volunteers for "personal purposes," by having them help in political campaigns and even wash his car.

"They never disputed it whatsoever," Walpin said. "And indeed the agency itself found that our statements were correct and our findings were correct."

Walpin, though, drew criticism elsewhere. After Walpin referred the matter to prosecutors in late 2008, the local U.S. attorney's office questioned Walpin's findings, saying they seemed overstated and did not accurately reflect all the information gathered.

Johnson's St. HOPE Academy released a statement last week after the firing, saying Walpin's allegations were "meritless" and not motivated by an "honest assessment" of the program.

The U.S. attorney's office nevertheless reached a settlement, under which Johnson and the academy reportedly were ordered to repay about half of nearly $847,000 in federal grants they received through AmeriCorps.

Walpin, though, said the agreement was signed "behind our back" and Johnson never was required to repay any money personally.

With his firing, Walpin said he's worried about the "chilling effect" it will have on his staff as well as other inspectors general who are supposed to be free to investigate independently concerns surrounding the agencies to which they're assigned.

He also raised concerns that Obama sidestepped a law he co-sponsored that requires the president to give 30 days notice, and a reason, for removing an IG.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, wrote White House Counsel Gregory Craig a letter on Monday requesting additional documents, explanations and e-mails surrounding the firing.

In the letter, he said Obama may have "violated" the law by giving an explanation that was "insufficiently vague" and immediately terminating Walpin.

Though the Obama letter technically included a 30-day window, Issa said his committee's investigation revealed that Walpin was given scant notice. He wrote that Walpin was given one hour by White House staff to either resign or be fired. Walpin would not resign.

Issa noted growing speculation that the firing was "politically motivated" and retaliatory.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who has been speaking up for the integrity and independence of federal inspectors general, also wrote a letter to Obama last week saying he was "deeply troubled" by the appearance that Walpin was given an "ultimatum" without sufficient notice.

"Inspectors general were designed to have a dual role reporting to both the president and Congress so that they would be free from undue political pressure," he wrote. "This independence is the hallmark of all inspectors general and is essential so they may operate independently, without political pressure or interference from agencies attempting to keep their failings from public scrutiny," he wrote.

Grassley agreed with Walpin, saying "it appears he has been doing his job."

Craig wrote Grassley saying Obama's decision was "carefully considered."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06 ... doing-job/

I was wondering when the dirt was going to come out about this President. It's sure starting to surface now, isn't it?

we need to call these congressmen and thank them for looking into this,
Glenn Beck has been covering this strory and i saw a little bit on Lou Dobbs this evening as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGYRlS1OJGE
Glenn Beck Clips 06-15-09 Investigator of Basketball Star Kevin Johnson Fired by Obama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPvjJBHJDuc
Glenn Beck talks to Byron York of the Washington Examiner about the AmeriCorp firing

More calls tonight for an investigation into the president's decision to fire a federal inspector general -- at the center of the controversy, whether President Obama was actually trying to stop an investigation of one of his supporters. Bill Tucker has the report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Was this man, Gerald Walpin, fired for investigating a man who happens to be a supporter of the president's? Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa and Representative Darrell Issa of California want to find out. The target of the Walpin investigation, former NBA star Kevin Johnson and now mayor of Sacramento.

The inspector general said he misused federal money at a California nonprofit group he ran, St. Hope. Prosecutors decided not to press criminal charges but Johnson and St. Hope agreed to pay back half the money. Walpin was angry about that settlement.

Last Wednesday evening, Walpin, the inspector general of the corporation (INAUDIBLE) community service for AmeriCorps received a phone call from a special counsel to the president telling him he had one hour to resign or he would be fired. He did not resign. Senator Grassley wants to know why Walpin was fired.

SEN. CHARLES GRASSLEY (R), IOWA: I want to get to the bottom of this. I want to get the e-mails. I want to get other information. I want to know what the president's reasons are for firing this person. We need watch dogs to make sure that the taxpayer's money is not wasted.

TUCKER: No one is disputing that the president can fire Walpin, but the law which Obama co-sponsored when he was in the Senate states that the president must give 30 days notice of the firing and inform Congress of the reasons. The letter from the president to the Speaker of the House and the president of the Senate informs Congress that Walpin was fired and only says, quote, "It is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as inspectors general. That is no longer the case with regard to this inspector general." Not good enough says Congressman Issa.

REP. DARRELL ISSA (R), OVERSIGHT & GOV. REFORM CMTE.: Clearly in the case of IG's, they're supposed to be only fired for cause. A lack of confidence would require at least a statement by the administration of some reason for that lack of confidence. Otherwise, by definition, the cause is simply that I don't want him and that's not the intent.

TUCKER: The White House response stating flatly that the president is fully in compliant with the law noting that a lack of confidence is reason enough. A spokesman points out that Walpin is still collecting a paycheck. He is simply suspended with pay for 30 days before he's terminated and that his firing was backed by the Board of the Corporation of National and Community Service. Walpin thinks his firing is meant to have a chilling effect on all inspector generals.

GERALD WALPIN, FORMER INSPECTOR GENERAL: IG's are supposed to be independent and not subject to political pressure. By firing me, they're telling other IG's be careful that you don't touch anything that we don't like.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TUCKER: Now late today the AmeriCorps Board responded to calls for an investigation assuring Senator Grassley that all documents related to Walpin will be saved. And Senator Claire McCaskill also added her voice, saying she believes the White House failed to comply with the law. She says loss of confidence is simply not reason enough and, Lou, she has some authority here, she wrote the bill.

DOBBS: And Senator McCaskill is also one of the -- President Obama's earliest and strongest supporters and when she says straight up that he's in the wrong here, one would think that the White House would be listening with great attentiveness.

TUCKER: I would imagine she caught their attention this evening when she came out with that statement, Lou.

DOBBS: All right, Bill, thank you very much -- Bill Tucker.

We would like to know what you think about all of this. Our poll question tonight, do you support an investigation into the firing of the inspector general of AmeriCorps. Yes or no. Cast your vote at loudobbs.com. We'll have the results here later in the broadcast.

Yes 94% 2858
No 6% 193
Total Votes: 3051

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/ ... dt.01.html