U.S. Govt workers punished in oil-sex scandal

[UpInArms]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Interior Department said on Friday it took disciplinary action against government workers who had sex, used drugs and took gifts from employees of regulated oil and gas companies.

The punishments stem from an investigation by the department's inspector general, who found there was "a culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" among employees at the department's Minerals Management Service, which handles billions of dollars in oil and natural gas supplies that are turned over by companies as in-kind royalty payments for drilling on federal lands.

The scandal shocked Congress, which held several hearings on the matter and proposed legislation to clean up the agency. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne testified at the time that he was "outraged" by the government workers accused of wrongdoing and their "abuse of the public trust."

The disciplinary measures ranged from a letter of warning and reprimand up to and including permanent reassignment from the agency's royalty-in-kind program, suspension without pay, demotion to a lower pay grade and being fired.

<snip>

The oil companies named in the inspector general's report were Chevron, Shell Oil and Gary Williams Energy Corp. Hess Corp was accused of providing gifts to MMS employees.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE4AK6U520081121

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note to mods: this story is 6 hours past the deadline, but I only now found it - and I searched for it in LBN -

this is a great example of the failure of our governmental employees and any safeguards in place to protect the citizens from their corruption - bad deeds get no punishment - reprimands and reassignment? give me a break!

[NoAmericanTaliban]

1. Typical example of Crony Capitalism

Which is what Bush & the GOP support. Wonder how many of these gov't employees were political appointees & how much $revenue$ was actually lost.

snip - Devaney told Congress "there probably were some losses" in royalty money that should have been paid by the companies, but he had no idea how much.

We will never see that money again just like all those Paulson billions that disappeared in Iraq. No accountability what so ever in both situations. Sounds like all they are getting is slaps on the wrists. Clear case of selective white collar punishment.

On the other hand it looked like a real fun place to work for awhile. Guess they may have some openings now :)

[mbperrin]

2. OOOOOO! "a letter of warning and reprimand "

Wow! How brutal. In fact, this story whitewashes the real facts, which are that they were

STERN letters of warning and reprimand. Just another coverup of the brutality of this administration which deals with Repub evildoers wherever they find them!

What they should have done is made them go hunting with Unca Dick! Now THAT woulda been scary!!!!

A teacher in our district was fired for using the word "damn" in front of a class of 5th graders. WHERE can I get one of these Interior jobs!!??



:crazy:

[Ian David]

3. Oooh... I'd almost forgotten about DildoGate! n/t

[Turbineguy]

4. Everybody should know by now

It's not a good idea to use petroleum based products for sex.

[armed_and_liberal]

5. so if they had sex on a cruise ship...

could that be called "offshore drilling" ?

[bluesmail]

6. ...uh, well not really.

[progressoid]

7. punishments "ranged from a letter of warning and reprimand ..."

...to and including permanent reassignment from the agency's royalty-in-kind program, suspension without pay, demotion to a lower pay grade and being fired.

Oh gee, lets see how this probably went. They fired one schmuck and everybody else got a slap on the wrist.

[Duppers]

8. ...

:kick: