Details are slowly leaking out about the firing of AmeriCorps Inspector General Gerald Walpin, who last week was given one hour either to resign or be fired. Walpin, accused of misconduct by Sacramento-based acting U.S. Attorney Lawrence Brown — a career official — opted to stay on and thus be fired. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), who co-authored a law requiring the president to give 30 days’ notice and notification of Congress as to the reason for firing inspectors general, says Obama violated the law by giving insufficient notice or explanation. A White House lawyer called it “political courage.”
In dismissing Walpin, Obama cited not having the “fullest confidence” in the IG, who had, oddly enough, just concluded an investigation into a nonprofit foundation run by Obama supporter, former NBA star and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. In that probe, Walpin found Johnson had used AmeriCorps grant money to pay volunteers for political activity and to run his personal errands. The U.S. Attorney’s office also investigated, filing no charges against Johnson, but obtaining a settlement where about half the grant money would be repaid. However, Johnson is personally responsible for only a small portion of the settlement, with the remainder accruing to the insolvent St. Hope foundation Johnson headed. As is often the case with misallocation of funds, there is little hope of recouping the cash.
The White House went on to assault Walpin’s mental faculties, saying that at a May 20 AmeriCorps board meeting, Walpin “was confused, disoriented, unable to answer questions and exhibited other behavior that led the Board to question his capacity to serve.” Other inspectors general may need to start looking over their shoulders if their investigations get too close to prominent Obama supporters.
