Enzi & Hatch Request Bipartisan Hearing to Investigate Firing of National and Community Service Corporation Inspector General White House Yet to Substantiate Basis for Termination

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Senior Member of the HELP Committee, today requested that HELP Committee Chairman Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) hold a hearing to examine President Obama’s removal of the Inspector General (IG) of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Gerald Walpin. “As you know, a number of news reports have noted that the IG’s removal coincided with the issuance of reports that were critical of CNCS grantees, prominently including St. HOPE Academy and its then-head Kevin Johnson, now the Mayor of Sacramento, California,” wrote the Senators. “Since then, there have been reports of an FBI investigation regarding potential obstruction of justice by St. HOPE, as well as significant questions raised regarding the propriety of the decision to remove the IG. We have asked for information from the White House Counsel and CNCS, but they have not been forthcoming to date nor willing to commit to a timeframe.” The Senators received a letter this week signed by over 100 members of the New York bar, including former Attorney General Mukasey and former White House Counsel Bernard Nussbaum, supporting the integrity and capacity of Inspector General Walpin, which cast doubt on the Administration’s assertions that Mr. Walpin lacked the candor or capacity necessary for his position.

“We believe the above facts compel us as to ask for a public hearing to determine whether the actions taken in this matter were appropriate,” added Enzi and Hatch.

A copy of the Senator’s request to Chairman Kennedy is below.

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