Motive in IG Walpin Firing? Larry Brown Curries Favor with Obama? Michelle Rhee Covers for Kevin Johnson?

Inspector General Gerald Walpin was fired by the White House for exposing the misuse of federal funds by AmeriCorps and former NBA star Kevin Johnson, currently the mayor of Sacramento, California. Today we learn one possible motive for instigating Walpin's removal.

Kevin Johnson and Michelle Rhee

The story has all the eye-popping details of a sensational National Enquirer story. Think John Edwards and his love child. The Walpin story has prestige: An honorable Inspector General doing his job spectacularly well. An acting U.S. Attorney, Larry Brown, looking for a presidential appointment, a famed NBA star, Kevin Johnson, just elected Mayor of Sacramento, California. Johnson's charity, St. HOPE Academy, AmeriCorps volunteers, $75 million in tainted federal funds, and the future chancellor of Washington, D.C. schools and St. HOPE Chairman of the Board, Michelle Rhee. Johnson and Rhee would soon be engaged. Then there are the three young school age girls who accused Kevin Johnson of inappropriate sexual behavior,  and the appearance, at least, that Michelle Rhee knew of the misused funds and the claims of the young girls.

Inspector General Gerald Walpin found that Kevin Johnson and AmeriCorps had spent $75 million in federal funds in inappropriate ways. Walpin's report to Congress also detailed the accusations of the three young women. Much has happened since the schizey hit the fan. Walpin has been cleared of all  the ethics charges that U.S. Attorney General Lawrence Brown tired to instigate,  including "overstepped authority." Walpin wants his job back and has sued.

Keep this in mind as the new part of this story evolves. Kevin Johnson and Barack Obama are tight. It is believed that Michelle O is tight with Michelle Rhee, the chancellor of Washington, D.C. schools. Michelle Rhee and Kevin Johnson are now engaged. Before the engagement, Rhee sat on the board of St. HOPE. A Washington, D.C. education blogger poses some problems and asks some questions:

...holding several, conflicting positions for one organization – Ms. Rhee’s titles at the St. Hope Charter Academy boggle the mind. 

Were all the positions paid positions? How did she perform the duties of board member and Chief Operating Officer at the same time? 

As president, Chief Operating Officer and Board Member at the same time? as President, COO, board member and a consultant for St. Hope on three projects, at the same time? 

Why, when  Rhee was apprised by St. Hope employee Jacqueline Wong-Hernandez about sexual misconduct allegations against Kevin Johnson by 3 Americorps teenage volunteers, did she not contact California State authorities she was obligated to do under California law?

As COO and President, not to mention those consulting positions, was Ms. Rhee aware of the misuse of Americorps funds and volunteers as outlined in the Investigative General’s report of August 2008?  

As one of the top three office holders of St. Hope it seems that either Ms. Rhee was aware and therefore particpated or that she was not aware and she was negligent in her duties or these positions were merely window dressing for her resume and padding for her bank account.

So Walpin's report was in. Kevin Johnson was soon to be sworn as Sacramento mayor and...there was a big problem. Johnson and his charity were under suspension from federal funds. This meant, as mayor, Johnson disqualified Sacramento from receiving a single penny from taxpayers.

So here is where it really gets interesting. Enter acting U.S. Attorney General Lawrence Brown. Brown wanted President Obama to appoint him as permanent Attorney General.  Brown stepped in, made a civil deal with Kevin Johnson to repay some of the funds - money that Walpin showed neither Johnson or his charity had available, that agreement lifted the ban on Sacramento's federal funding and Brown used his official letterhead to get Walpin investigated by the 'Integrity and Ethics" Counsel of Inspectors General.

Michelle Rhee didn't give up on Kevin - a few charges of inappropriate behavior with young woman? Not really important. She paid a visit to Gerald Walpin to plead Johnson's case, but Walpin's report remained unchanged.

From a Department of Justice document:

Acting United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown announced today that St. HOPE Academy has agreed to pay $423,836.50 to settle allegations that St. HOPE did not appropriately spend AmeriCorps grant awards and education awards...The amount of the civil settlement represents one-half of the $847,673 in AmeriCorps grant funds received by St. HOPE Academy. 

“The agreement reached strikes a proper balance between accountability and finality. St. HOPE Academy must pay a significant amount for its improper handling of AmeriCorps funds. [Don't you love this one?]

St. HOPE will make an initial payment of $73,836.50 by electronic transfer within five business days from today;

Kevin Johnson will pay $72,836.50 of the initial payment by St. HOPE, with possible repayment to Johnson by St. HOPE when it is financially able to do so;

Dana Gonzalez will pay $1,000.00 of the initial payment by St. HOPE.

Johnson and Gonzalez shall each register to take an online course offered by Management Concepts titled “Cost Principles”;

For a quick read of the charges of sexual impropriety, read "G" here, or find more linked below.

Save a president's friend from public shame and you just might get a presidential appointment. 

The Washington Examiner published information today on Larry's Brown's ambitions for the presidential appointment to the U.S. Attorney's office:

In a January 5, 2009 letter to Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Brown's home-state senator and a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Brown wrote, "I write to express my interest in appointment as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California" -- a presidentially-appointed position. In the letter, Brown took care to highlight his Democratic credentials.

"As this is a political appointment," Brown wrote: I will note that for the past two years, I have been registered as Decline to State. From 1988-2007, I was a registered Democrat and from 1982-1988, a Republican. As may be evident, I am not a rigid ideologue and discovered that I simply did not fit neatly within either party. I chose to ultimately become an independent because I felt that in my line of work, namely the administration of justice, neither party has a monopoly and its handiwork must be performed in non-partisan fashion. I count myself in the ranks of those who have grown weary of the overly-simplistic "red state/blue state" debates over complex issues and enthusiastically embrace President-elect Obama's call to abandon such labels and become the united states [sic] of America.

When Obama's White House counsel, Gregory Craig, fired Walpin, he used Brown's accusatory letter. There were also accusations of something like disorientation and maybe senility by the White House, which has since been shown to be unfounded.

Senator Charles Grassley has been on point on behalf of IG Walpin since the time of his firing, and Democrats have joined in as well. Grassley wanted Obama to follow proper procedure for firing an inspector general. The only procedure used was that the president said he had lost confidence in Walpin. That's not the way an IG should lose his/her job.

There is so much more to this story. It is full of corruption from the office of AmeriCorp right up to the White House. Johnson was accused of using AmeriCorps volunteers to drive him around, do personal errands...wash his car, etc. St. HOPE emails were intentionally deleted. If our political persuasion is Liberal, we can hush it by repaying in some way. 

In the end, Brown did not get his appointment, and he now sits on the Sacramento Superior Court. Kevin Johnson leads a magical life, one charity and several young girls left in the wake he makes, as he jets back and forth to see Rhee in Washington, D.C. An Inspector General who dared expose graft and corruption, especially with one of Obama's fondest volunteer organizations, AmeriCorps, is now out of the way. In the link second from the bottom below, you'll read how the White House directed another Inspector General to shred documents pertinent to Gerald Walpin's defense. Is this the White House you want? I didn't think so.

I have a lot of background reporting on this story. Links follow.

Michelle Rhee Covered up Kevin Johnson Sex Scandal?  

Kevin Johnson - St. Hope Scandal: Rick Maya Resigns, Gerald Walpin Investigates

Who is Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson - Walpin-Johnson Investigation

U.S. Attorney Larry Brown and CnCS Displeasure with Walpin's Investigation

Schwarzenegger Involvement: Kevin Johnson Investigation by Gerald Walpin

Glen Beck - Gerald Walpin Video: IG Gerald Walpin on Glen Beck

White House Charges Walpin Confused, Disoriented, Disruptive

Gerald Walpin Firing Update: AmeriCorp $75 Million Misused: Michelle Obama Hires?

Gerald Walpin Fired by President Obama: Inspector General Walpin Fired

Kenneth Bach Shreds Gerald Walpin Documents

Former AG Michael Mukasey says Walpin was fired illegally 

Mary Matalin Out of the Closet: Matalin Calls Republican Friends Attila the Huns

Republican strategist Mary Matalin is a co-host at a fund-raiser in Washington, D.C. for Democrat New Orleans mayoral candidate, Mitch Landrieu. Mary Matalin is officially "out" as a closet Democrat. My husband is laughing himself silly - chanting "I told you so."

Matalin says none of her "Attila the Hun" fellow Republicans will attend. Really Mary!

Matalin says her support for Democrat mayor in her residence city of New Orleans has nothing to do with "party," and everything to do with "common sense" and "leadership." She says Mitch Landrieu has it.

Hmmmmm. Maybe there's more to it than that. And so it goes in Shreveport thinks that is the case. Could it be...that Senate Dems promised Ms. Landrieu more than the $300 million buyoff for her vote on healthcare? Did they promise national support for brother Mitch? Was Matalin's husband, Democrat operative, James Carville, convinced to ask Matalin to "pretty please," do this for me - A Republican cannot win, come on Mary, dear." Or was money promised for a New Orleans project near-and-dear to Matalin's heart? Who knows, but really, something doesn't smell right with this endorsement.

The Greater New Orleans Republicans (GNOR) were endorsing Democrat Ed Murray, but - oops! he dropped out in early January. GNOR is infamous for endorsing current Democrat Mayor Ray Nagin, the failed Mayor who didn't scramble his buses to get New Orleanians out of the inner city during Katrina:

The GNOR also overlooked one of the founders of their own organization, businessman John Georges. Back in 1986, Georges, along with fellow Republican Allen Churchill, launched the Greater New Orleans Republicans. For many years, Georges was a staunch Republican, who financially supported a variety of GOP candidates. However, he switched his party affiliation to Independent to run for Governor in 2007 and is now a Democrat in this race.

There is a Republican in the race. Rob Couhig isn't getting the endorsement of anyone, apparently. He is a longtime Republican, twice candidate for the U.S. House, and he ran for Mayor in the 2006 elections as well, which he lost to Nagin. Couhig is a lawyer and radio talk show host.

Update: 3:30 p.m. CST: A reader left some important information about Rob Couhig and the support he has received in the heavily Democrat city. This from a New Orleanian, and he/she makes a excellent point about Murray no longer being a contender:

I know you would want your post to be as factual as possible.  In that vein I want to correct a point you make.  You mention that "Rob Couhig isn't getting the endorsement of anyone, apparently" .  That is simply not true.  Rob Couhig has been endorsed by the official Republican party of New Orleans (see http://lagop.com/2009/12/la-gop-congratulates-republican-candidates-endorsed-by-orleans-parish-republican-executive-committee/) and the chairman of the state party is actively working to elect Rob Couhig. As well as by the Louisiana chapter of CRIMEFIGHTERS, a group of 11,500 retired police officers and victims who band together to improve the criminal justice system. The group you reference is a small group originally formed some years ago by John Georges as you point out that has their own political ambitions in mind and endorsed Murray as they said because they felt he had the best chance of beating Mitch Landrieu.  Well since Murray is no longer in the race I suppose they were wrong.  Rob Couhig is the only Conservative voice in this election. 

The Washington, D.C. fundraiser isn't Matalin's only outing. She is hosting a "Women for Landrieu" coffee this Tuesday - and she says she "doesn't see this as such a big deal."

I'm the first to admit I do not understand Louisiana politics, and least of all those of the city of New Orleans. The consensus is, a Republican simply cannot win - but we know they sure cannot win without the support of the local conservatives (assuming there are some). If Republican candidates are always given-up on, how does the message ever get out? When the GOP has no message except the support of Democrats...well, how does the message ever get out, and when can we expect a Republican to have a fighting chance? Who knows, a few good conservative ads might begin to breed conservatism within the city. So it takes years...I think it is worth doing.

Matalin, a former assistant to President G.W. Bush, and counselor to Veep Cheney, should keep quiet and just pull the lever for Landrieu in the privacy of the voting booth. Yes, it is her right to stump for whomever she wants, but her endorsement is not a smart move. Let hubby, leftist extraordinaire, James Carville, get down in the gutter and do the co-hosting.

Kenneth Bach Shreds Gerald Walpin Documents: AmeriCorps IG Kenneth Bach Shreds WH Evidence

Gerald Walpin was the Inspector General (IG) for AmeriCorps. He believes he was fired by the White House (WH) for an incriminating report on AmeriCorp showing the abuse of $75 million dollars of taxpayer monies. Walpin is suing to get his job back, but evidently, documents perhaps pertaining to his case have been shredded at the request of the White House, by the very man who replaced him.

White House

According to Salisbury News:

The acting inspector general of AmeriCorps said he shredded White House documents at the request of an agency press spokeswoman that pertained to the controversial firing of the previous inspector general, Gerald Walpin, who was ousted after investigating a political ally of President Obama.

 The email obtained by CNSNews through Freedom of Information ACT (FOIA):

The e-mail message from agency spokeswoman Ranit Schmelzer seemed urgent, as she wrote: “WH documents were sent in error. Can you please destroy them? And can you confirm you receive this e-mail?” Acting IG Kenneth Bach responded 13 minutes later writing, “Confirmed, documents were shredded.”...

The documents referenced in the Bach-Schmelzer email exchange included a draft of a letter to be signed by President Obama that would be sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to inform her that Obama was firing Gerald Walpin as inspector general for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which runs AmeriCorps, and also a set of talking points to be used in explaining to the media why Walpin was being fired.

When an Inspector General is fired, there is a procedure for doing so, none of which those sympathetic to Gerald Walpin believe, happened, including Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). To date, President Obama has only said that he "lost confidence" in Walpin.

Not only did Walpin expose fraud at AmeriCorps, he also exposed a politician - a friend of Barack and Michelle Obama, who misused charitable funds. The politician is former NBA star and current Mayor of Sacramento, California Kevin Johnson. Johnson's past is fraught with scandal - inappropriate touching of at least one minor, recruiting AmeriCorps personnel to work in his own non-profit, St. Hope Academy, and to work for him personally. Walpin's report charged that the supplemented St. Hope salaries by "converting" AmeriCorp grant funds and more.

So let's take a look at Kevin Johnson, and keep in mind that Walpin's investigation was correct and it is documented that Johnson misused federal funds, at times for his personal benefit. That fact is not being disputed by anyone.

Read Who is Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson?

Walpin, who has been exonerated from any wrong doing says such a request from an "agency spokeswoman" is "shocking," as well as acting Inspector General Kenneth Bach's compliance.

Related and Background:

U.S. Attorney General Larry Brown and CNCS Displeasure with Walpin's Investigation 


Kevin Johnson - St. Hope Scandal: Rick Maya Resigns, Gerald Walpin Investigates 

Who is Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson - Walpin-Johnson Investigation

Schwarzenegger Involvement: Kevin Johnson Investigation by Gerald Walpin

Gerald Walpin Fired by President Obama: Inspector General Walpin Fired
 
Gerald Walpin Firing Update: AmeriCorp $75 million Misused: Michelle Obama Hires?
 
Glen Beck - Gerald Walpin Video: IG Gerald Walpin on Glen Beck
 
White House Charges Walpin Confused Disoriented Disruptive