Gerald Walpin

Ex-AmeriCorps IG Gerald Walpin Loses Appeal In Wrongful Firing Suit

Rachel Slajda | January 5, 2011, 1:54PM

Gerald Walpin

Gerald Walpin, the former inspector general of the department overseeing AmeriCorps, lost an appeal in his lawsuit claiming that he was wrongfully fired by the Obama administration in June 2009.

A federal appeals court ruled against Walpin yesterday, writing in the panel's unanimous decision that Walpin does not have a "clear and indisputable right" to his old job.

Walpin's accusations of wrongdoing by the Obama administration quickly became a cause on the right. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), who's about to become chair of the House Oversight Committee, opened an official Congressional inquiry into the firing with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA). Their report, however, didn't find any evidence of actual wrongdoing.

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Gerald Walpin

Axed IG's Lawsuit Against Obama Administration Thrown Out

Justin Elliott | June 21, 2010, 9:08AM

Gerald Walpin

Gerald Walpin, the AmeriCorps inspector general who sued after being fired by the Obama Administration last year, has lost a round in court, Politico reports.

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Darrell Issa

No Let Up: Darrell Issa's Tireless Quest For Scandal

Zachary Roth | April 23, 2010, 8:35AM

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA)

Remember the 1990s, when Newt Gingrich, Dan Burton and co. managed to create a steady stream of outrage by playing up every Clinton administration "scandal," no matter how minor? Or how about the last years of the Bush administration, when Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) seemed to function as a one-man investigative machine, making sure that no Bush administration wrong-doing went unexamined?

Today that role is being played by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), the ranking Republican on the House Oversight committee. But despite the steady stream of made-to-order conspiracy theories coming from Fox News and the Tea Party crowd, it's a much harder job. That's largely because Issa's party is in the minority, so he doesn't have the power to compel testimony or subpoena documents. And it's perhaps also because, though the Obama administration is far from squeaky clean, Issa just hasn't had the kind of material to work with that his predecessors did.

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Gerald Walpin

GOP Inquiry Fails To Show Obama's Firing Of AmeriCorps IG Was Politicized

Justin Elliott | November 20, 2009, 6:52PM

Gerald Walpin and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson

A congressional GOP inquiry into the firing of the inspector general for AmeriCorps has been garnering headlines mostly for revealing details of allegations of sexual misconduct by Sacramento Mayor and Obama ally Kevin Johnson. But on the key question of whether the IG, Gerald Walpin, was fired for improper political reasons, the report brings little new to the table.

Prepared by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the report asserts that the White House's "failure to use a transparent process to effectuate Walpin's removal deprived the President of an opportunity to explain his action in an appropriate way."

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Swiftboating

Notorious PR Firm That Reps Swift Boaters, Creationists, PhRMA Now Helping Fired IG

Justin Elliott | November 20, 2009, 5:12PM

Gerald Walpin

A heavy-hitting conservative public relations firm that flacked for Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and boasts an impressive array of right-wing clients is now helping Gerald Walpin, who was fired this summer by President Obama as the inspector general for AmeriCorps.

Creative Response Concepts Public Relations (CRC) is representing Walpin, a secretary who answered the phone at the company confirmed to TPMmuckraker today.

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Gerald Walpin

AmeriCorps Official Urged Colleague To Destroy Docs On Walpin Firing

Zachary Roth | November 13, 2009, 2:11PM

Gerald Walpin

An AmeriCorps official urged a colleague to "destroy" documents relating to the controversial firing of the agency's inspector general, according to emails obtained by a conservative news site. AmeriCorps says the request was made out of concern for the independence of the IG's office, after documents on the firing were mistakenly sent its way. But news of the episode is giving new life to a story the Obama administration had hoped was dead.

Yesterday, CNSNews.com, a conservative news site, published an email exchange it obtained through a FOIA request related to the firing this summer of Gerald Walpin as inspector general for the Corporation for National and Community Service. Walpin, backed by the conservative media, has claimed that he was dismissed for zealously pursuing an Obama ally for financial misconduct, and is now suing AmeriCorps over the firing. The administration has said concerns about Walpin's performance and temperament led to his removal.

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Gerald Walpin

Axed IG Walpin: Reinstate Me Immediately

Justin Elliott | September 17, 2009, 5:29PM

Gerald Walpin

Gerald Walpin wants his old job back -- right now.

The former inspector general of the Corporation for National and Community Service, who was fired by the White House, filed a lawsuit in June alleging the firing was unlawful and politically motivated.

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