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Waxman: State Investigator Blocked Corruption Probes
In a blistering 14-page letter today (pdf), House oversight committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) charged that the inspector general for the State Department Howard Krongard has been actively impeding probes into waste and corruption in Iraq and elsewhere. The basic allegation, as Waxman simply puts it, is that "you believe your foremost mission is to support the Bush Administration, especially with respect to Iraq and Afghanistan, rather than act as an independent and objective check on waste, fraud, and abuse on behalf of U.S. taxpayers." In other words, Waxman is charging that he's a hack, and the worst kind, too -- one that can do real damage.
Waxman has a litany of examples of Krongards' alleged hackishness, but one is particularly colorful.
There have been allegations that the contractor First Kuwaiti used forced labor building the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. So Krongard looked into it.
Only he had a peculiar method, according to Waxman's investigation. First, he insisted on doing the report entirely by himself and shut out his staff. And instead of seeking out the source of the allegations, he allowed the contractor to choose the employees that he'd interview. He ultimately interviewed six employees.
The result? Krongard declared that he found no evidence of human trafficking.
But when Waxman sought the investigative materials that Krongard had generated in the course of his probing investigation, Krongard only turned over 20 pages total (after a subpoena from Waxman). Of those 20 pages, only six of them were Krongard's own work product -- sketchy handwritten notes from his interviews with the contractor's handpicked witnesses.
The Justice Department has since launched an investigation.
Waxman has invited Krongard to a October 16th hearing before the committee to explain himself.
Comments (19)
Jazgar wrote on September 18, 2007 4:58 PM:Yes, Howard, splain it to us. Please.
thomas wrote on September 18, 2007 5:21 PM:Waxman has invited Krongard to a October 16th hearing before the committee to explain himself.
Invited???
These guys don't show when subpeoned. Why would Waxman think they would show when 'invited'?
theperilouspea wrote on September 18, 2007 5:21 PM:Honk if howard bells
Jim Leach wrote on September 18, 2007 5:25 PM:are larger than
Honk if howards bark is sharper than his
Okay. Now we know the guy's, at best, a partisan hack and lackey of the Bush administration; at worst, he's violated his oath and maybe broken the law.
So what's Waxman going to do about it?
Simply exposing it, which would embarass the bejeebers out of anyone else and cause them to seek outer darkness on their own, isn't going to cut it with this crowd.
So, what's Waxman going to do about it?
Eric Ferguson wrote on September 18, 2007 5:50 PM:It's a shame these crooked IG stories fly under the radar. We count more than we probably know on the threat of impartial investigations to deter corruption. It's like having a crooked cop or crooked judge.
William Wilson wrote on September 18, 2007 5:59 PM:What will the Democrats do about the opportunistic, incompetent cronies of this Bush administration? So far, not much!
JEP wrote on September 18, 2007 6:51 PM:It seem obvious that were any the govt agency IGs under the Bush administration not negligent (or incompetent, by ordinary standards) that individual would have never have been appointed to his present position of power. While it is likely that Howard Krongard was at least negligent (by any reasonable standard), the Democrats, under instructions from their wimpy leadership, will most likely abdicate any semblence of responsibility.
There's actually someone left at the Justice Department to launch an investigation?
Rich wrote on September 18, 2007 7:10 PM:What I want to know is, with all the graft and corruption in the Bush administration, how do I get in on it?
Is there a place to submit applications? I can easily not do a job with the best of them.
I guess I have to be a Republican, first. One strike.
justadood wrote on September 18, 2007 7:58 PM:only 20 pages turned over? I'm betting Fielding told him to do no more, and he'll put a claim to Exec Privelege if Waxman catches on and requests more.
I agree with above statements....forget about "inviting". Subpoena his ass, and publicly notify the Senate Sergeant-at-arms that should he not show on time, their office will ensure they at least show....
justadood wrote on September 18, 2007 7:59 PM:only 20 pages turned over? I'm betting Fielding told him to do no more, and he'll put a claim to Exec Privelege if Waxman catches on and requests more.
I agree with above statements....forget about "inviting". Subpoena his ass, and publicly notify the Senate Sergeant-at-arms that should he not show on time, their office will ensure they at least show....
cjop wrote on September 18, 2007 8:22 PM:I bet the administration is pissin' it's pants. Waxman must get tired of holding his breath.
Anonymous wrote on September 18, 2007 8:44 PM:"""These guys don't show when subpeoned. Why would Waxman think they would show when 'invited'?"""
...I think Waxman is way ahead of you. Of course he does not 'think' this clown will show up. He knows he wont. That failure to show will be another straw thrown on the GOP camel's back. My guess is that after Mr. hack fails to show when politely invited a subpoena will seen as a necessity.
""""Simply exposing it, which would embarass the bejeebers out of anyone else and cause them to seek outer darkness on their own, isn't going to cut it with this crowd."""
JNagarya wrote on September 18, 2007 9:04 PM:....Waxman is not working with this crowd. He is working on keeping a dark cloud ever cast on this crowd. He is not revenge freak. He knows the GOP will face little if any criminal consequences but the Democrats have been very successful in handing them political losses. This is intended to keep up the trend and deny the GOP an anti-momentum spin strategy. Waxman is keep these fools withtheir heels on the edge and this is another straw on that camel's back. Is it the one that makes it snap? Who knows? Just keep piling on those straws.
This "bringin down the GOP" thing will be done in a manner similar to termites bringing down a building and not like Hiroshima.
"thomas wrote on September 18, 2007 5:21 PM:
"Waxman has invited Krongard to a October 16th hearing before the committee to explain himself.
"Invited???
"These guys don't show when subpeoned. Why would Waxman think they would show when 'invited'?"
Make up your mind: You don't like the Republicans because they are uncivil. And at the same time, you demand that the Democrats also be uncivil.
Congress operates according to law, according to legal standards. Why do you want them to become trashmouthed like the Republicans?
Anonymous wrote on September 18, 2007 9:29 PM:""JNagarya wrote on September 18, 2007 9:04 PM:
"thomas wrote on September 18, 2007 5:21 PM:
"Waxman has invited Krongard to a October 16th hearing before the committee to explain himself.""
I think the problem with many folks is that, although many of us have seen local investigations and court systems, we have forgotten that over the years, those we have intrusted with the important issues affecting our democracy.. have pretty much exempted themselves from the same scrutiny and laws.
We have come to see that the "important" people in high places are treated entirely different than common folk. At the same time, more and more common folk are realizing that this is more a mark of dictatorships and Kingdoms than actual democracies.
john crandell wrote on September 18, 2007 11:01 PM:Get out the axe, Waxie!
jollyroger wrote on September 19, 2007 2:48 AM:Chop his balls off.
The laudable zeal for accountability that is manifest so often above is, alas, doomed to be mocked by the flurry of pardons with which G-Dub shall exit the west wing.
No one is going to do a day of time, nor pay a dime, for refusing to snitch on "Los Crawfordenos".
I could have sworn I saw G-Dub in a "snitches wear stiches" t-shirt...
PJ White wrote on September 19, 2007 5:33 AM:WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE STILL HERE? How long is going to take to get rid of these shameless, lying, scum-sucking political hacks who have been installed by the Bush Abomination? How about inviting this POS to Club Fed for a vacation at tax-payers' expense? Now that would be money well spent!
PJ White wrote on September 19, 2007 6:11 AM:I just read Waxman's 16 page letter to Krongard. Wow! If Krongard has a lick of sense, which is questionable, he will realize that his days are numbered, all is known, the jig is up, and he should fly. He should resign by Friday, at the latest.
Tbone wrote on September 19, 2007 8:56 AM:Is it just me, or does Krongard look like Quagmire from Family Guy?