TPM Muckraker

« previous | MUCK HOME | next »

White House Investigator Short on Funds

Back in April, Scott Bloch, the head of the Office of Special Counsel, announced that his office would "leave no stone unturned" in pursuing White House malfeasance. In fact, a special task force was assembled to handle all of Karl Rove's alleged dirty doings.

Problem is, Bloch apparently forged ahead without actually having the money to fund the task force. And as Justin reports over at The Blotter, it's not looking like he'll be able to land that extra $3 million. So some of those stones might just have to stay right where they are.

Without a last-minute infusion of nearly $3 million, the special task force may be unable to pay its staff and buy the kind of technical equipment it needs to investigate allegations that White House political operatives may have improperly injected politics into government activities, according to Jim Mitchell, spokesman for the U.S. Office of Special Counsel....

The cost of the task force for 2008 would be $2.89 million, according to OSC estimates. But Bloch started the probe long after he submitted his 2008 budget request. And now he's having a hard time convincing those holding the nation's purse strings to loosen up and give him some last-minute extra funding.

The OSC is an odd creature -- it's actually a White House office, and the House of Representatives apparently told Bloch to go ask for the extra money from the White House's Office of Management and Budget. So now Bloch is in the odd position of asking for more money from the White House in order to fund this extra investigation. On top of all that, there's certainly no guarantee that the White House will do anything if Bloch were to actually complete his investigation. Back in June, Bloch delivered a report to the White House that the head of the General Services Administration should be punished "to the fullest extent" (i.e. fired) for her politicization of the agency. It's been radio silence from the White House since then. It seems likely that he'll get the same response this time around.

As for why Bloch is getting the cool response from Congress, Justin points out that Bloch himself is under investigation.


307 Comments

| Leave a comment
user-pic

Just like the DOJ cut back funds to US Attorneys offices resulting in fewer cases - here we have an even more perverse example.

I don't think this is going to stand.

user-pic

Maybe Bloch's office could send someone over to Iraq to find a few million $$ out of all of the $$ that has disappeared over there. I'm sure that some of this money remains unlaundered, er, I mean unspent.

user-pic

Money don't grow on trees . . .

user-pic

"money don't [sic] grow on trees"? the sweet sound of "rule of law" apologists.

user-pic

Ah, Jake.

Soon your Social Security will run out. Then we'll see if you sing the same song.

Ironic that, during Clinton, there was a federal surplus - and hundreds of millions were spent on investigations on the Clinton family and administration. Investigations that were baseless and mean spirited.

Now, today, the Federal treasury is broke, and, surprise, no money to investigate the rampant GOP corruption.

user-pic

Interesting... The OSC doesn't have the money to pursue the investigation in connection to Karl Rove and the DOJ is short staff of convicting Congressman Jerry Lewis in California. And we all know where the Judge Dept.'s budget has gone to:

a) Iraq
b) The Clown President's pet projects.

user-pic

Another way to gum it up until the Chimp is back in Crawford.

user-pic

Now, if we were to consider each of those to-be-turned-over stones to be, say, a meatball, the cost would be $4 per meatball. Right?

user-pic

So, the Repubs could find 50 million to investigate Clinton's sex life, but we can't find a paltry 3 million to investigate corruption? Is that about right?

user-pic

Geez-what a surprise...this illegal, immoral and down-right criminal administration won't fund an investigation of its own misdeeds!

Will wonders never cease!

user-pic

And just when we thought Fiscal Responsibility had died a slow death. Of course, the Republicans have never liked unfunded mandates -- unless they were their own.

user-pic

Where can I send my donation?

user-pic

This sounds like a robber bragging after a robbery, "They can't chase us without gas money."

user-pic

So it's "please give me money, so that I can investigate all of your illegal acts." The OSC has an unavoidable conflict of interest when it comes to investigating the people they answer to. It's time for a new Independent Counsel that's actually independent.

user-pic

You got it, null. Five bucks from every person who feels outraged by the malfeasance should fund them for awhile.

Anyone know about the legality of funding a particular department without the WH--or Bloch--being able to get the money?

The contacts for the Hatch Act office are: (800) 85-HATCH or (800) 854-2824, and (202) 254-3650.

The contacts for the Prohibited Practices office are: (800) 872-9855 and (202) 254-3670.

They've got regional offices in Oakland ((510) 637-3460, Fax: (510) 637-3474), Dallas ((214) 747-1519 Fax: (214) 767-2764), and Detroit ((313) 226-4441
Fax: (313) 226-5606), so maybe there can be some sort of "change of venue" for investigations due to a conflict of interest.

user-pic

Easy solution.

There is no corruption in the Bush administration because there is no Bush administration. On the day he leaves office, his name and all of the names of his cabinet and staff and everyone who worked for them should simply be struck from the records.

I mean, look, they pretty much aren't interested in leaving any kind of legacy given that the RNC has all of the Presidential records.

Let's just call it one big misunderstanding and pretend the 8 year little arbustito nightmare never happened.

user-pic

Scott Bloch is a flake who is not respected by many of the conservatives to whom he has tried to ingratiate himself. He has very few friends on either side of the aisle. He is deeply compromised and is the wrong man to lead any serious investigation.

user-pic

Haven't seen anything of Mrs. Pantstreppon (sorry if I misspelled her name); rather miss her. Sorry for going off-topic.

user-pic

OSC's budget requests are established by the President through OMB but that's true of every federal agency. That’s the way the budget process works in any administration. Also, the Office of Special Counsel is part of the executive branch of government but it’s not a White House office. OSC is an independent federal agency like the EEOC or the Federal Trade Commission.

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 125.163.80.101
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 06:33:32 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 59.171.70.71
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 06:51:36 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 63.133.229.3
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 07:10:16 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 123.176.104.82
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 07:31:17 AM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 68.145.96.212
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 09:09:48 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 202.46.116.114
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 09:32:38 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 62.251.170.12
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 09:33:03 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 75.52.224.100
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 10:14:37 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 221.27.12.247
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 10:14:56 AM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 84.62.36.96
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 11:55:15 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 121.83.56.8
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 12:21:32 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 217.158.152.189
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 12:37:09 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 84.56.109.166
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 01:04:57 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 201.80.142.139
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 01:08:01 PM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 207.250.10.170
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 02:52:03 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 201.66.166.169
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 02:52:10 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 91.151.146.19
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 03:23:26 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 65.113.119.188
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 03:38:28 PM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 200.149.10.187
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 05:53:48 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 210.212.182.114
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 05:54:25 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 200.221.10.104
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 06:23:39 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 201.24.10.250
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 06:35:33 PM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 220.60.20.43
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 08:38:17 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 202.102.122.13
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 09:08:15 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 125.250.30.82
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 09:17:30 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 70.187.136.35
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 09:47:47 PM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 59.166.31.158
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 11:14:44 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 69.94.135.72
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 11:47:30 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 210.51.51.24
URL:
DATE: 11/05/2007 11:57:33 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 195.76.242.227
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 12:31:20 AM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 74.52.17.226
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 01:58:30 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 61.246.0.240
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 02:30:04 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 168.216.152.160
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 02:37:11 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 218.207.114.2
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 03:09:12 AM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 200.195.33.106
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 04:34:03 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 218.224.38.119
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 04:34:19 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 216.168.43.11
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 05:08:50 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 201.1.209.20
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 05:13:53 AM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 123.110.14.57
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 07:07:01 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 201.218.224.15
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 07:41:47 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 201.80.89.3
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 07:44:50 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 218.39.146.155
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 07:44:54 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 69.231.32.25
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 08:18:51 AM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 200.204.150.158
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 02:34:08 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 201.6.158.130
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 02:34:15 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 201.80.193.110
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 02:55:43 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 203.88.192.104
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 03:17:28 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 83.23.229.110
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 03:39:58 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 202.163.200.153
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 03:40:23 PM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 77.57.29.206
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 05:24:01 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 221.114.163.181
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 05:24:31 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 212.41.254.24
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 05:24:52 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 61.28.1.91
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 05:46:55 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 200.226.134.53
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 06:27:17 PM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 222.132.28.251
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 07:59:43 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 203.88.192.104
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 08:24:52 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 193.110.187.50
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 08:25:13 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 65.183.143.133
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 08:36:58 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 201.75.100.47
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 09:01:46 PM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 212.41.254.24
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 10:30:56 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 61.90.248.250
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 10:58:11 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 202.115.130.23
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 11:09:37 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 83.116.247.148
URL:
DATE: 11/06/2007 11:36:11 PM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 202.164.53.34
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 01:04:27 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 200.117.215.167
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 01:44:54 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 66.98.138.54
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 02:16:32 AM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 220.57.216.147
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 05:08:25 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 210.211.134.84
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 05:28:29 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 200.101.127.84
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 05:48:38 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 201.42.122.29
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 06:08:11 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 208.48.253.137
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 06:08:23 AM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 200.171.6.109
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 07:42:42 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 201.80.56.18
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 07:42:44 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 219.16.12.183
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 08:02:17 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 217.206.78.212
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 08:18:53 AM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 216.244.98.133
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 10:18:21 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 210.2.208.87
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 10:44:02 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 201.134.253.21
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 11:00:35 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 125.189.233.245
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 11:00:39 AM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 200.106.208.50
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 11:27:56 AM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 83.64.62.51
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 01:12:09 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 196.12.153.10
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 01:43:33 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 69.65.19.74
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 01:58:39 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 89.229.192.203
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 01:59:44 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 190.16.92.153
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 02:31:29 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 201.252.57.24
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 02:31:53 PM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 200.226.134.53
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 04:21:41 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 222.221.6.144
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 05:08:56 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 194.30.32.11
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 05:43:29 PM

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic


[URL=][/URL]

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 200.171.237.254
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 07:20:38 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 207.6.24.188
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 07:51:49 PM

user-pic

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 159.178.50.67
URL:
DATE: 11/07/2007 08:00:08 PM