Complaints Heard About NASA Inspector General

[maddezmom]

Source: Washingtron Post

By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 8, 2007; Page A07

Former top associates of embattled NASA Inspector General Robert "Moose" Cobb accused him in an unusual House-Senate congressional inquiry yesterday of being abusive, vulgar, unprofessional and seemingly beholden to top management of the agency he oversees.

Cobb gave little ground, however, and made clear that he believes those complaints and the criticisms voiced by two probes into his actions are unfair and their conclusions misguided.


He said that he is proud of his five-year stewardship of the office and that NASA Administrator Michael D. Griffin fully supports him. He also said an independent ethics committee investigation -- which concluded earlier this year that Cobb should be punished or dismissed -- was "a complete and de facto exoneration of me."

The report of the Integrity Committee, made up of three inspectors general, a top FBI official and other senior ethics officers, said that Cobb had abused his authority by mistreating his staff. It also found that he had created the appearance of a lack of independence by lunching, drinking and golfing with top NASA officials. The committee, which was established by the executive branch, did not find substance to charges that Cobb had improperly overlooked safety complaints by whistle-blowers.

Cobb said the Integrity Committee's "criticisms are not based on facts or law and are wrong."



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/07/AR2007060702143.html

[KT2000]

1. Just watched the hearing

This guy is a poster boy for the "political takeover" of our government. Unbelievable arrogance.
Watching him reminded me of the Fred Malek papers as posted by kpete today.

[MGKrebs]

2. I'm still dreaming, right?

The investigation that recommended he be fired or punished he says was a complete exoneration? wtf?


He said nobody had found fault with the work done by his office?

"The 3 1/2 -hour hearing ended with a visibly frustrated Nelson citing 24 formal complaints against Cobb, 79 specific allegations and the findings of "abuse of authority" made by another inspector general's office, which were endorsed by the federal Integrity Committee."

Unbelievable.

[maddezmom]

3. only Bush can fire him

so he knows he still has a job :mad:

[kurth]

4. "Lunching, drinking and golfing with top NASA officials"

A real independent inspector general - Bushie style.