Progressive Minds

Very interesting story from the Associated Press (AP) on how government officials (and their friends in the U.S. Congress) are trying to silence the inspectors general who help uncover waste, abuse and fraud in our federal agencies.

From the AP:

-  The top official of the government's property and supply agency compared its inspector general to a terrorist, hoping to chill audits of General Services Administration regional offices and private businesses.

-  Directors of the government's legal aid program discussed firing their inspector general, who investigated how top officials lavishly spent tax dollars for limousine services, ritzy hotels and $14 "Death by Chocolate" desserts.

-  Administration-friendly Republicans in Congress tried to do away with the special inspector general for Iraq, who repeatedly exposed examples of administration waste that cost billions of dollars. Among the contractors criticized was Halliburton Corp., once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney.

-  The Pentagon has been making its inspector general use lawyers picked by the defense secretary instead of independently hired attorneys.

Gov't watchdogs under attack from bosses

Gerald Ford admitted (in a recently released interview) that his personal friendship with Richard Nixon played a part in his decision to pardon Nixon for his crimes in the Watergate scandal.

Ford told reporter Bob Woodward (who of course helped uncover Watergate) "I looked upon him as my personal friend. And I always treasured our relationship. And I had no hesitancy about granting the pardon, because I felt that we had this relationship and that I didn't want to see my real friend have the stigma."

In other words, Gerald Ford put personal friendship ahead of country, and justice.

Ford: Nixon Friendship Affected Pardon