The State Department's chief internal watchdog has "partisan political ties," which have led him to improperly interfere with his office's work and obscure fraud allegations and security issues which might embarrass the White House, according to allegations received by a House Democratic chairman.

Some subordinates believe that State Inspector General Howard Krongard's "foremost mission" is "to support the Bush administration," wrote Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chair of the Government Reform and Oversight Committee, in a letter to Krongard released Thursday.

As one of several examples of Krongard's alleged meddling, Waxman noted Krongard's probe of allegations that the contracting firm First Kuwaiti was abusing its foreign workers constructing the new, $592 million U.S. embassy compound in Baghdad.

Last September, Krongard personally investigated accusations the company was "kidnapping" foreign workers to work in Iraq against their will and subjecting them to dangerous working conditions. Krongard concluded the allegations could not be proved.

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But Waxman said in his letter today that Krongard followed "highly irregular" procedures, which "raise questions" about his work. According to Waxman, there is no evidence that Krongard interviewed any accusers, two of whom have since testified before Waxman's committee about what they saw. In fact, there is no evidence that Krongard interviewed any employees who had been at the worksite, aside from six workers who had been chosen for him by First Kuwaiti, Waxman wrote.

In the six pages of notes Krongard took during the investigation, "there are no answers noted to many...questions" he was allegedly asking the workers about their alleged mistreatment, Waxman wrote.

Waxman also charged Krongard with running a highly politicized office; jeopardizing an investigation by tipping off a presidential appointee he was being examined; hiding security problems from Congress; and refusing to investigate or cooperate with Justice investigators on allegations of fraud by State Department contractors.

The chairman said the claims were based on documents and interviews with seven current and former employees at the Office of Inspector General.

"The allegations, as described to me and in certain media reports, are replete with inaccuracies including those made by persons with their own agendas," said Krongard, who has not read Waxman's letter since he has been out of the country, traveling to Afghanistan and Iraq. "I have been committed to discharging my statutory responsibilities...to the best of my ability and without regard for personal interest."

In his letter, Waxman requested numerous documents and interviews with several of Krongard's subordinates and invited Krongard to testify at an Oct. 16 hearing to address the allegations.

This post has been updated.

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