State Dept. IG Retaliates Against Whistleblowers, Threatens ‘Their Jobs And Careers’
State Dept. IG Retaliates Against Whistleblowers, Threatens ‘Their Jobs And Careers’
Approximately 10 days ago, House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) wrote to State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard to report allegations from seven IG employees that he “has repeatedly interfered with on-going investigations to protect the State Department and the White House from political embarrassment.”
Krongard has thwarted investigations into waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq. He has also “refused to cooperate with an investigation into alleged weapons smuggling by a large, unidentified State Department contractor.”
Today, Waxman sent Krongard another disturbing letter that reveals the State Department Inspector General has been retaliating against the whistleblowers. Waxman writes:
This week, several current employees in your office — including two who have agreed to go on the record — informed the Committee that your senior staff attempted to coerce them not to cooperate with the committee’s inquiry and threatened their jobs and careers.
In the letter, Waxman explains that one week after he informed Krongard of the accusations being made by employees within his department, the whistleblowers were accosted by one of Krongard’s subordinates: a congressional affairs liaison who works for the State IG’s office. Here’s what one whistleblower reports that he was told:
[T]he congressional liaison told him: “You have no protection against reprisal. You have no whistleblower protections. Howard could retaliate and you would have no recourse.”
If there was any doubt about whether the Inspector General has been improperly carrying out the duties of his office, he’s confirmed it with his attempts to retaliate against his own employees, at least one of whom he had previously lauded as “one of my best investigators.”
Waxman directed Krongard “to suspend all communications (other than those necessary to collect responsive documents) with employees the Committee is planning to interview.”
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27 Responses to “State Dept. IG Retaliates Against Whistleblowers, Threatens ‘Their Jobs And Careers’”
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But he’s doin’ a helluva job, Howie.
I wonder if naybody has already been punished or fired by this jerk. Maybe there is a whistleblower case already out there to challenge that liaisons threat.
• Detox from Fox: Starve The Beast
September 28th, 2007 at 11:11 amExcellent work, Congresssman Waxman.
September 28th, 2007 at 11:15 amRoot out the nest of vipers who have hijacked our democracy.
This is why bushco are referred to as “Rethuglicans”.
September 28th, 2007 at 11:21 amToo bad nothing will happen. The Administration ignores Waxman and the rest of Congress, and there are no consequences.
September 28th, 2007 at 11:23 amHarrassing witnesses that Congress calls is Inherent Contempt.
I will be happy if they stop writing letters and start charging these criminals with something that has teeth.
Anything else is just the same ‘ol bullsh!t over and over again.
September 28th, 2007 at 11:27 amWelcome to the Politburo.
September 28th, 2007 at 11:35 amUp is down, black is white, ignorance is knowledge.
Orwell’s vision has come to pass. Welcome to 1984.
September 28th, 2007 at 11:47 amI think Waxman is great, but when are we going to see some action on this? I guess he’s got to follow protocol, but doesn’t he have enough evidence to prosecute?
September 28th, 2007 at 11:52 amrobert byrd is doing more at 90 then you are
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QU4cLu63xUY
September 28th, 2007 at 11:52 amRepublicans are scumbags.
The fact they promote themselves as “moralistic” is absurd.
September 28th, 2007 at 11:53 amGO Waxman GO!
More documented impeachable offenses!
September 28th, 2007 at 11:55 amWhy can’t Condi manage her department?
September 28th, 2007 at 12:14 pmGawd, when will this all end. We have an out of control President and an out of control Government and a Congress that won’t take any direct action other than writing GD letters!
No wonder the rest of the world thinks we are a bunch of whack jobs.
September 28th, 2007 at 12:37 pmIf those who are willing to go on record are retaliated against or threatened again prior to the completion and or subsequent to the completion of their testimony, formal Congressional charges should be filed against Krongard and his relevant subordinate(s). Asking these people to stop has never worked before. I doubt it will work this time. The democrates need to stop “threatening” to do the right thing and start “doing” the right thing! Until they do, the stonewalling and cover-ups will continue.
September 28th, 2007 at 12:37 pmSo, when will the Dems take off the gloves? Ever?
September 28th, 2007 at 12:39 pmTheToonGuy, you are 100% correct. By the time Bush leaves office Waxman will have an incredible history on the crimes of the Bush administration. Perhaps he’ll turn it into a movie or something, but impeach anyone… I don’t think so.
This past year has proven to me that Repugs and Dems work for the same master. In fact, i’d have to hand it to Repugs that they are much more honest about it. As long at our political system is ruled money, those who have money will rule our politicians. Period!
If you want to end the war, have a real energy policy, or just do anything about anything, the money has to be removed from the system. Unfortunately, due to perhaps a terrible twist of fate, those currently benefiting from this system are the ones who have to change it.
September 28th, 2007 at 12:39 pmWaxman, like most of the Dem’s is a pussy. All talk and no action. He’s making an absolute fool of himself and of Congress (along with a slew of other members).
I am sure the people in the Bush Admin. are living in fear of getting a letter from Waxman. More likely they are rolling on the floor laughing.
He is like the kid that draws a line in the dirt and says if you step over that line he’s going to fight you. Of course the Admin. keeps stepping over the line and all Waxman can do is stand there in shock and then draw a new line. What a looser.
September 28th, 2007 at 12:43 pmWhy can’t Condi manage her department?
Comment by tombaker — September 28, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
Maybe because when the going gets tough …. she goes shoe shopping!
September 28th, 2007 at 12:43 pmAnd the sad thing about this is that the rest of the people in the US won’t know anything about this because it won’t be covered in the MSM. I just did a Google News search on “Inspector General Krongard” and find that this IS not being reported in the MSM. The first hit was TP.
September 28th, 2007 at 12:49 pmJust you wait: soon Waxman will send a letter telling the Bushies that he’s “seriously miffed” and he’ll underline it five times in pink highlighter. That’ll get them to toe the line.
September 28th, 2007 at 12:51 pmWrite Henry Waxman an e-mail and demand that he take action and stop writing letters. You will have to use this zip code to get past his filters:
90048-4163 (you need the four digit number at the end)
http://www.house.gov/waxman/contact.htm
I just entered the address of his Los Angeles office plus the complete zip code with the ending four digits.
September 28th, 2007 at 1:10 pmAnd how will Waxman enforce his injunction? Cut off funds? I don’t think so. Barking dogs seldom bite. But I hope they start!
September 28th, 2007 at 1:22 pmThis is certainly a violation 23 U.S.C. § 2302 and a creation of hostile environment in the workforce by the State IG. I look for lawsuits by the whistleblowers in the future. 23 U.S.C. § 2302 states:
(”Any employee who has the authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action, shall not, with respect to such authority. . . take or fail to take, or threaten to take or fail to take, a personnel action with respect to any employee or applicant for employment because of a disclosure of information by an employee or applicant which the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety”).
September 28th, 2007 at 1:30 pmThe IG’s office? “The fox.” “The chicken-coop.” <*bleaaauuuughhh!!!*>
Cheers,
September 28th, 2007 at 4:03 pmI hope the “Cookie” crumbles.
SP Biloxi - Do you know of any watchdog group that could provide legal counsel to the whistleblowers? These agents are class acts and they are going to need counsel when Uncle Howie comes for them. He’s sued his own son for over a $100,000.
September 29th, 2007 at 8:45 am>Do you know of any watchdog group
>that could provide legal counsel to
>the whistleblowers?
this is why i can’t wait to get my liscense to practice law..less than one year..god willing..
September 29th, 2007 at 9:11 amChocolate Jesus:
October 1st, 2007 at 10:17 amI suggest that you learn how to spell “license” before representing anyone.