« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
EPA Prohibits Pollution Experts From Talking To IG Investigators
From the AP:
The Environmental Protection Agency is telling its pollution enforcement officials not to talk with congressional investigators, reporters and even the agency's own inspector general, according to an internal e-mail provided to The Associated Press.The June 16 message instructs 11 managers in the EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, the branch of the agency charged with making sure environmental laws are followed, to remind their staff members to keep quiet.
"If you are contacted directly by the IG's office or GAO requesting information of any kind ... please do not respond to questions or make any statements," reads the e-mail sent by Robbi Farrell, the division's chief of staff. Instead, staff members should forward inquiries to a designated EPA representative, the memo says.
Advertisement
Josh
Zachary
July 28, 2008 8:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obstructing a criminal investigation is illegal, and obstructing an audit by a Presidentially appointed IGs (the IG for one of the cabinet agencies) would also be illegal under the IG Act.
However, the IG's for non-cabinet level agencies aren't given the same level of independence and if the Agency Administrator wants to specify how the IG office has to go about it's duties, one could argue that is legal.
Ultimately, the IG should either issue a report where they withhold their opinion due to the conditions under which they conducted the audit, or the IG could resign.
The Congress has it within it's power to impeach the EPA Administrator for either perjury in his prior testimony, or for contempt for not testifying, that really would be the appropriate approach, IMHO.
July 30, 2008 12:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
United States Code
Title 18, Section 1512
Whoever knowingly uses intimidation, threatens, or corruptly persuades another person, or attempts to do so, or engages in misleading conduct toward another person, with intent to—(1) influence, delay, or prevent the testimony of any person in an official proceeding; (2) cause or induce any person to—
Withhold testimony, or withhold a record, document, or other object, from an official proceeding or
Hinder, delay, or prevent the communication to a law enforcement officer of the United States of information relating to the commission or possible commission of a Federal offense
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
July 28, 2008 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nail 'em, Dwight!
July 29, 2008 7:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Has there ever been a more fuck-you/lawless administration in our country's history??
If there's one thing the past 8 years have taught me, it's been to learn how to hate.
I could -happily- put these miscreant motherfuckers up against the proverbial wall and pull the trigger. My disgust has become that complete.
July 28, 2008 9:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Coral Sea,
Unfortunately, many Americans would join right along.
July 28, 2008 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bushicide,
I regret that my post sounded vituperative and hyperbolic - but the thoughtful emotion at its crux is, I feel, quite valid.
I'm both a historian and a veteran. As such, the myriad (and numerous) violations against our Constitution (not to mention, historical precedent, basic morality, and common-fucking-sense), have rankled me like nothing I'd ever experienced previously. In a word, it has been not unlike a spiritual anal violation.
Were we a just, balanced society, the vile lawbreakers would be properly dealt with (Hi, Dick!). But, as my years of observation have taught me, we are far removed from said society.
July 28, 2008 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Coralsea. Not to worry, I got your sense straight away. I am not American but am an admirer of your system of government and I have spent 8 years looking at the things I do so admire being abused, broken and thwarted. The greatest sadness for me is to realize that so much has been given up without a whimper or very much of a care by so many of your countrymen. Ben Franklin had the right of it.
July 29, 2008 3:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
George Dubya's pardon list will create a short term paper shortage.
Perhaps he should look into recycling Cheney's shreddings.
July 29, 2008 7:06 AM | Reply | Permalink