GOP to examine claim that EPA blocking probes
Source: AP-Excite
By DINA CAPPIELLO
WASHINGTON (AP) — A yearslong turf battle between the Environmental Protection Agency's inspector general and an EPA unit run by President Barack Obama's political staff is getting an airing before Congress by a top investigator who accuses the EPA administrator's office of illegally operating a "rogue enforcement agency" that has blocked independent investigations.
The assistant EPA inspector general for investigations, Patrick Sullivan, was scheduled to testify Wednesday before a House oversight committee about the activities of the EPA's little-known Office of Homeland Security.
The office of about 10 employees is overseen by EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy's office, and the inspector general's office is accusing it of impeding its independent investigations into employee misconduct, computer security and external threats, including compelling employees involved in cases to sign nondisclosure agreements.
"Under the heavy cloak of 'national security,' the Office of Homeland Security has repeatedly rebuffed and refused to cooperate with the OIG's ongoing requests for information or cooperation," Sullivan said in prepared testimony obtained by The Associated Press. "This block unquestionably has hamstrung the Office of Inspector General's ability to carry out its statutory mandate to investigate wrongdoing of EPA employees."
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140507/epa_investigations-8ced274e75.html
FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2013, file photo, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy speaks to the Associated Press during an interview at her office in Washington. The EPA's inspector general is accusing a unit run by President Barack Obama's political staff inside the EPA of operating as a "rogue law enforcement agency" that is blocking independent investigations and violating federal law. Patrick Sullivan will tell a House oversight committee May 7 that the EPA's Office of Homeland Security, which is overseen by the chief of staff to McCarthy, has for years impeded inspector general investigations, citing national security interests. Sullivan's prepared testimony was obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
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bodies. In this case, it does not appear that the IG's inquiry is related to the agency's policies or practices related to policy; but rather, office stuff (e.g., peer bullying, management's treatment of subordinates, etc.) that has little public effect.
But that is not going to stop the gop from politicizing this "sibling spat", in order to attack an agency that they despise for political reasons.
ETA: Struck after read more on the subject ... it appears that an Asst IG was suspended because he was re-writing IG reports to support the "political agenda" of DHS personnel with whom he relationships (though that could mean, he was re-writing to avoid embarrassing his friends).
