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- But Is It Art?
- PMA Scandal a Sore Point for Dems in 2010?
- Down in Flames
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Budget Shortfall May Shutter White House Probe
September 17, 2007 12:21 PM
A task force probing allegations of illegal activity by Karl Rove and other former and current White House officials is in jeopardy due to lack of funding, according to its spokesman.
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 assistance 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.
In April, Special Counsel Scott Bloch announced that a new, six-member task force from his office would probe the use of private e-mail accounts by White House aides, the firing of at least one U.S. attorney by administration appointees and presentations of political data by White House aides to other officials in government.
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 House of Representatives has already approved a budget for OSC that does not include any extra money for the task force. In an accompanying report, it directed OSC to work with the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to request the spending.
Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
On the Senate side, the panel reviewing OSC's budget is aware of the problem but doesn't look eager to jump in. Documents obtained by the Blotter on ABCNews.com imply the Senate too will decline to add extra funds for the task force. In a draft report, that panel too will point the investigators to ask the White House to support its request.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who chairs the panel, did not respond to a request for comment.
If congressional Democrats are reluctant to back Bloch, it may be because of concerns about his appropriateness. Bloch, whose office investigates whistle-blower retaliation complaints and discrimination disputes as well as allegations of inappropriate political activity by government employees, has twice been accused by watchdog groups and former employees of letting politics determine investigative decisions.
Bloch is also reportedly under investigation by a White House-run panel, the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE), over allegations he retaliated and discriminated against his own employees. Bloch has denied the charges.
With Bloch and the White House investigating each other's alleged misbehaviors, it isn't hard to understand why relations between the two have been strained for some time.
Then in June, Bloch issued a blistering report on another White House appointee, General Services Administration chief Lurita Doan. He found she had engaged "in the most pernicious of [prohibited] political activity" by encouraging her subordinates to find ways to support Republican candidates.
Doan has denied the charges in Bloch's report, which recommended she "be disciplined to the fullest extent." The White House has taken no action regarding Doan.
A spokesman for the White House budget office declined to say whether it would recommend extra money to pay for the task force. Noting that President Bush has already sent his budget request to the Hill, the spokesman said it would be inappropriate to interfere with the congressional appropriations process at this point.
OSC spokesman Jim Mitchell says his office doesn't know what to expect.
"We talked extensively with OMB about our need for staff, space, equipment, computer forensic analysis equipment," he said, but have heard nothing back. "I don't know if we should take that as a denial."
Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
September 17, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (14)
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Congress has a nervous twitch when it comes to exposing the graft and corruption that took place under its nose. It has special aversion to outing the bushbaby cabal because of fears that the truth will shed some light on a wide area where a lot of rats have been scurrying for cover. Let the last rat caught in light talk loudest...
Posted by: daddy | Sep 17, 2007 1:01:33 PM
How can you investigate something that was not a crime? It is indisputable that these attorneys all serve at the pleasure of the President. Thus, like every other American worker, these attorneys could be fired at any time, for any reason.
Just more bluster and nonsense from a democratic Congress that is more worried about scoring cheap political points than solving America's real problems.
I am sure that the money wasted on these types of stupid investigations could be used to fix our bridges and other infrastructure.
Posted by: jim jones | Sep 17, 2007 2:29:15 PM
More dishonestly from the rightwing.
The attorneys could be fired at any time but only for no reason - not "any" reason.
That is, they couldn't be fired for refusing to break the law, which is what is being alleged.
I do agree with Mr. Jones however that instead of paying his salary as a Republican shill we should fix our infrastructure.
Cheers.
Posted by: jimbo | Sep 17, 2007 3:26:10 PM
With this administration, why would anyone expect accountability?
Posted by: Sally Gardner | Sep 17, 2007 3:36:18 PM
Like his namesake, drinking the kool-aid again, Jim Jones? Americas real problems are investigating the STUPIDS you helped into the whitewash house. Exposing their crimes should paint you into a corner where we can deal with your criminal cabal. The stealing and the war for profiteering you support would pay for all our infrastructure problems easily but you must be enjoying your war laden stock portfolio too much. Let us know when you release the teat of the public trough you drool at so we can get a sip for our children, loser!
Posted by: daddy | Sep 17, 2007 3:43:10 PM
Tell us where to send money to continue the investigation.
Posted by: savethemiddleclass | Sep 18, 2007 7:45:43 AM
I am thinking that the Demos are seeing the downside in pursuing this any further. They were after Karl Rove, he is now gone, they pushed Gonzales out,now they should confirm the new AG. The Demos can read the tea leaves, or I should say, the Polls. The Public could care less about these investigations. They don't want this to go to the US Supreme Court an lose. However, they will find a way to mess up an lose the coming election. Its like Hillary an her health care program, if its so great for the American Public, why does she not introduce it in the Senate. Folks who are pushing Hillary, in reality are pushing to get Bill Clinton back in the WH. Everything she comes up with has his fingerprints on. If the MSM were to make an issue of the money wasted in these investigations, I think they would come to a halt.
Posted by: Homjett | Sep 18, 2007 8:27:08 AM
I love observiing the anti-american folks that frequent and post on this site. .
Posted by: jim jones | Sep 18, 2007 10:53:53 AM
It is a Federal crime to not properly store and care for all communications of the government. Presidential Records Act. Using RNC political email accounts for government business on gov time is a crime.
Loosing or deleting those emails is a crime. Using goverment time or facilities for political activities is a crime (Doan). Bush and his entire lot are illegitimate criminals to the 10th degree, and I am a republican.
Posted by: Vman | Sep 18, 2007 2:00:04 PM
How can you investigate something that was not a crime?
Investigations by their very nature are conducted to find out if indeed a crime has been committed and to gather evidence... unless of course it is a government frame up like the many phony "terrorist investigations" that happen years after people have been kept in prison and tortured by this despicable immoral administration, some as young as 6 years old released at age 9 without charge in Guantanamo. I agree this is both un-American and cowardly and is motivated purely by a small group of fearful, craven, incompetent people, that can not come by money with out blowing up buildings and mass murdering people in their own country as well as all over the world anywhere they can make a buck.
The lies are without end in the Cheney/Bush mob -we would all be better off if the President was Benedict Arnold.
Posted by: Kungfublood | Sep 18, 2007 11:13:21 PM
The voter caging was a crime. Hiding the government emails was a crime. They've covered up all kinds of crime. They've also caused the deaths of a million people and stolen trillions of dollars.
Posted by: Dave Bell | Sep 19, 2007 1:15:00 AM
We can send billions to Israel and whiz off a half a trillion on a fraudulent war,but can't find 3 million to prosecute one of the perpetrators of that war? Why should I be surprised? It's the United States of America
Posted by: Robert | Sep 19, 2007 11:25:15 AM
s'funny-they had $40 million of our tax dollars to go after Bill Clinton and he only told a lie-about sex with a consenting legal age female
Rove tore up Our Constitution and Bill of Rights, but theres no spare change, eh?
And judging the number of pervert caught these days-all being GGOP-it woldnt surpirse me a bit if he was in on some child sex ring-most of the ones who preach the loudest against it are the ones DOING it!
Posted by: Marg | Sep 19, 2007 9:58:41 PM
I sumit a vote of "no confidence" in my country's government.
Posted by: oobe | Sep 20, 2007 8:21:20 PM
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