STATE DEPT FRAUD INVESTIGATION Being Launched By House Committee

[kpete]

State Department under Hill scrutiny
By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer
58 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - A congressional committee has launched an investigation into the State Department's inspector general, alleging that he blocked fraud investigations, including potential security lapses at the newly built U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

Also under scrutiny is whether Blackwater USA, the private security firm banned this week from working in Iraq for the alleged killing of eight Iraqi civilians, was "illegally smuggling weapons into Iraq," according to a letter to IG Howard J. Krongard that was obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press.

The investigation involves allegations that "your strong affinity with State Department leadership and your partisan political ties have led you to halt investigations, censor reports, and refuse to cooperate with law enforcement agencies," Krongard was told.

Based on allegations made by a number of current and former senior investigators who worked for Krongard, the letter from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee also questioned whether he adequately investigated illegal labor trafficking allegations involving the Kuwaiti company that was building the Baghdad embassy.

more at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070918/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/state_department_fraud_probe

...........
THINK PROGRESS LINK TO ALLEGATIONS:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/…..-state-ig/

State Dept. Watchdog: My ‘Foremost Mission Is To Support Bush Administration’
The Inspector General Act of 1978 states Inspectors General (IG) must be “independent and objective” in their analysis. The State Department IG, led by Howard Krongard, has a core mission of “promot integrity” and “prevent and detect waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement” within the Department.

But today, House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) wrote to Krongard under allegations from seven employees that he “has repeatedly interfered with on-going investigations to protect the State Department and the White House from political embarrassment.”

Waxman wrote that one “consistent allegation” is that Krongard believes his “foremost mission is to support the Bush Administration, especially with respect to Iraq and Afghanistan,” rather than “act as an independent and objective check.” Waxman also noted complaints of Krongard’s “partisan political ties.”

[BOSSHOG]

1. And I thought the State Dept wasn't doing a damn thing the past four years

[AtomicKitten]

2. But that would mean the Dems would have to enforce subpoenas.

I think they are too afraid of the big bad Republicans.

[JDPriestly]

4. They need to get a promise to enforce subpoenas form the next Attorney General.

Might as well keep the corrupt guy now in place if the next Attorney General will not enforce Congressional subpoenas.

[rudy23]

3. Let me guess how this one ends. Ignored subpoenas, threatening letters, toothless hearings, NADA.

Let's just save ourselves the time and trouble.