Firing AmeriCorps Inspector General: Political Courage

White House: Firing AmeriCorps IG an act of "political courage"
(6/18/09 Washington Examiner)

"A top White House lawyer called the firing of AmeriCorps inspector general Gerald Walpin an act of "political courage," according to House Republican aides who were in a meeting with the lawyer Wednesday."

This was how Mr. Walpin was fired:

"The law requires the president to give Congress 30 days' notice, plus the cause for the firing of an inspector general. In Walpin's case, the White House called Walpin out of the blue, gave him one hour either to resign or be fired, and only later notified Congress, and then without giving any cause for its action."

And that's supposed to signify "political courage".

And this is what Mr. Walpin was investigating, and probably why he was fired (The Sacramento Bee 6/11/09):

"The inspector general found that Johnson [mayor of Sacramento], a former all-star point guard for the Phoenix Suns, had used AmeriCorps grants to pay volunteers to engage in school-board political activities, run personal errands for Johnson and even wash his car.

"In August 2008, Walpin referred the matter to the local U.S. attorney's office, which said the watchdog's conclusions seemed overstated and did not accurately reflect all the information gathered in the investigation.

"Kevin Hiestand, chairman of the board of St. HOPE Academy, said in a statement it was "about time" Walpin was removed. "Mr. Walpin's allegations were meritless and clearly motivated by matters beyond an honest assessment of our program," he said."

The latest from the Sacramento Bee on the issue: FBI probes obstruction of justice claim by former St. HOPE official (6/18/09)

But no matter. We'd better learn "crimestop" very quickly.

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