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Senator Charles Grassley has demanded records from the Obama administration over the dismissal of the Inspector General for Americorps and raises the possibility that Barack Obama broke a law he co-sponsored in the Senate that protects the independence of the IGs. The firing comes as the Obama administration cut a sweetheart deal with a major Obama backer that allows him to receive federal funding as mayor of Sacramento, and fails to repay taxpayers for the money Kevin Johnson admittedly took illegally

This is classic Obama: an Inspector General investigates how a non-profit in Sacramento uses AmeriCorps funds and finds that the head of the organization, a prominent Obama supporter, used a lot of the money to pay recipients to wash his car, run errands for him, etc. The Inspector General blows the whistle, and promptly finds himself in Obama’s crosshairs. Obama, in his usual bullying way, first demands that he resign within an hour. When Walpin refuses to do so, Obama high-handedly fires him without stating any cause, in apparent violation of the 2008 statute, co-sponsored by Obama, which was intended to assure the independence of the Inspectors General. When Senate Democrats expressed their dissatisfaction with that end-run around the law, Obama invented a whole new story to the effect that Walpin had to be fired because he was senile and incompetent.

White House refuses to answer Senate questions on AmeriCorps IG firing

Senator asks about firings of watchdogs
Removal of 2 inspectors general prompts questions
June 18, 2009

… snip ..

Grassley is now concerned about whether a pattern is emerging in which the independence of the government’s top watchdogs — whose jobs were authorized by Congress to look out for waste, fraud and abuse — is being put at risk.

WALPIN SPEAKS, OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CLAMS UP

June 17, 2009

Fired Inspector General Gerald Walpin has responded aggressively to new claims by the Obama administration that he was fired from his job because he was "confused," and, perhaps, senile. Byron York records Walpin’s response, which is, to say the least, coherent, much more than we can say for Obama’s ever-shifting stories about why he fired an Inspector General who caused trouble for a prominent supporter of the administration. Byron himself notes that Walpin exhibits no sign of any "confusion:"

"Confused" Inspector General Takes Competency Test by Glenn Beck

Fired IG Calls White House Explanation ‘Baseless,’ Says He’s Being Targeted

Gerald Walpin, who until last week was the inspector general for the Corporation for National and Community Service, tells FOXNews.com that part of President Obama’s explanation for firing him was a "total lie" and that he feels he’s got a target on his back for political reasons.

EDITORIAL: A witness to Walpin-gate
The White House excuse for firing an IG falls flat

Video: Kevin Johnson admitted friendly connection to Obamas

A video found by Naked Emperor News shows an interview with Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson admitting his close relationship with both the president and the first lady and later denying the relationship. Mr. Johnson is currently embroiled in the Walpin-gate controversy. His non-profit, St. HOPE Academy, is being investigated by the FBI over allegations that an executive at the nonprofit founded by Mr. Johnson obstructed a federal inquiry into the group’s spending.