NASA's Inspector General Probed

[cal04]

Failure to Investigate Safety Violations Is Among the Charges
An FBI-led watchdog agency has opened an investigation into multiple complaints accusing NASA Inspector General Robert W. Cobb of failing to investigate safety violations and retaliating against whistle-blowers. Most of the complaints were filed by current and former employees of his own office. Written complaints and supporting documents from at least 16 people have been given to investigators. They allege that Cobb, appointed by President Bush in 2002, suppressed investigations of wrongdoing within NASA, and abused and penalized his own investigators when they persisted in raising concerns.

The complaints are being reviewed by the Integrity Committee of the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency. The complaints describe efforts by Cobb to shut down or ignore investigations on issues such as a malfunctioning self-destruct procedure during a space shuttle launch at the Kennedy Space Center, and the theft of an estimated $1.9 billion worth of data on rocket engines from NASA computers. In documents obtained by The Washington Post and in interviews, NASA employees and former employees said Cobb's actions had contributed to a lack of attention to safety problems at NASA.

The petitioners also said Cobb had disregarded the inspector general's mandate to root out "waste, fraud and abuse" and caused dozens of longtime NASA employees to leave the IG's 200-person office and seek investigative work elsewhere. Cobb would not discuss his case, saying in a telephone interview only that he will "cooperate fully" with the investigation. "I am proud of, stand behind and am accountable for the work of the IG," he said. "The office has been particularly dedicated to ensuring an atmosphere where safety concerns are fully addressed."

In an e-mail sent to his staff on Tuesday, Cobb said the Integrity Committee is investigating allegations "that I 'failed to investigate violations of safety concerns' " and retaliation against whistle-blowers. He urged employees to "cooperate fully" with the investigators. House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood L. Boehlert (R-N.Y.) said his office "deals with the IG all the time. He has always been responsive to us, and we have never had any indication of a problem." Boehlert noted that the committee "wouldn't know anything" about the incidents under investigation, and said that "we will await the outcome of the investigation."

more
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/02/AR2006020202721.html

[savemefromdumbya]

1. Is there anyone left who isn't fraudulent?

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. Not if you are a member or supporter of the PNAC

only the corrupt need apply to that gang.

[ThoughtCriminal]

2. The usual pattern

http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2002/12/2002_1.html

"Mr. Cobb was previously Associate Counsel to the President. In this role, he handled the administration of the White House ethics program under the supervision of the Counsel to the President and was responsible for administration of the conflict of interest and financial disclosure clearance processes for candidates for nomination to Senate-confirmed positions."

The Bush White House has made this a trend for IG appointments
http://www.reform.democrats.house.gov/Documents/20050111164847-37108.pdf

[BrendaStarr]

9. Yeah, I saw that too.

And made a point of it on my current blog.

<a href=http://savedemocracy4all.blogspot.com>Democrats Represent More Americans</a>

[quaoar]

3. This is potentially huge

from the story:

the theft of an estimated $1.9 billion worth of data on rocket engines from NASA computers

Now, who would steal that and why would Cobb want to cover it up?

[Nostradammit]

4. That headline is hilarious -

And the Integrity Committee of the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency should start by changing their name.


Is there no part of America Bush won't destroy?

[Wilms]

5. kick

[carolinalady]

6. Well I think we know where this investigation is headed:

The complaints are being reviewed by the Integrity Committee of the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency

nowhere.

[cyberpj]

8. Was it an anal probe?

Sorry.
I know this is serious.
It's just that the headline struck me as humorous because of all the alien abduction and anal probes stuff that makes the ragsheet headlines.

Turns out, just more of the same corruption by Bush and friends.

[bananas]

10. kick and crossposted to Science forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=228x17553

[DeepModem Mom]

11. These people cannot, or will not, govern. Profit, not policy.

And certainly not service to the people.