WALPIN-GATE IS STILL CHUGGING ALONG

As if we need another scandal. Yet, the one involving former NBA star / Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, AmeriCorps (Obama's pet project), and a cast of shady characters continues to develop new plot lines. Turns out accusations that Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) head, Alan Solomont had conversations with First Lady Michelle Obama's office are true despite his claims to the contrary. CNCS is the parental entity over AmeriCorps.

When Investigator General Gerald Walpin insisted on pressing an issue involving Johnson's misuse of taxpayer dollars, he was abruptly fired by the White House, even though the law states he must be given 30 day notice and congress must be involved. Johnson is a buddy of Barack Obama.

This scandal has many layers but the purpose of this post is to reveal a new one. Specifically, regarding Alan Solomont, Byron York has REPORTED:

Congressional investigators looking into the abrupt firing of AmeriCorps inspector general Gerald Walpin have discovered that the head of AmeriCorps met with a top aide to First Lady Michelle Obama the day before Walpin was removed.

According to Republican investigators, Alan Solomont, then the chairman of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees AmeriCorps, had denied meeting with Jackie Norris, at the time the First Lady's chief of staff. But recently-released White House visitor logs show that Solomont met with Norris on June 9 of this year (as well as on two earlier occasions). President Obama fired Walpin on June 10 after an intense dispute over Walpin's aggressive investigation of misuse of AmeriCorps money by Obama political ally Kevin Johnson, the mayor of Sacramento, California.

What? Another Lie? Say it ain't so.

Don't you just love this explanation?

After being presented with the visitor logs, investigators say, Solomont explained that he met with Norris to discuss Corporation business but did not discuss the Walpin matter. When pressed, Solomont said he might have made an offhand comment, or a mention in passing, about the Walpin affair, but that he and Norris did not have a discussion about it.

Meeting with Jackie Norris would have been equivalent to meeting with Michelle Obama, which is why Solomont might not want to list his meetings, of which there three that have been confirmed. These meetings would indicate that the First Lady's interest in AmeriCorps may have been strong enough to reasonably question her level of involvement in the Walipn firing.

Here comes the most unbelievable story.

...Solomont denied talking to Norris. Then, in November, White House visitor logs showed that Solomont had been to the White House 17 times between President Obama's inauguration and the July 15 interview, and had met with Norris on three of those occasions, including June 9. In a follow-up interview conducted December 8, Republican investigators asked Solomont why he had not previously disclosed his meetings with Norris.

So the head of CNCS and by extension, AmeriCorps. met with Michelle Obama's Chief of Staff one day before Walpin was fired and we're to believe the subject never came up?!

Boy, that Joe Wilson character is aging like a fine wine.



Be sure to read the WHOLE THING.

IG Walpin Now Fired for being Racist?

We all remember Gerald Walpin, right? The Inspector General for AmeriCorps, Barack Obama's pet project, who was fired when he wouldn't play ball with the White House relative the settlement with Obama's buddy, former NBA star and current Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson. Johnson was found to have misused taxpayer money intended for his non-profit organization called St. HOPE. Basically, Johnson got a slap on the wrist that Walpin thought was too lenient. Walpin was subsequently fired.

Unlike the White House, Walpin hasn't changed his story one time. After getting pressed by congressional investigators to explain the termination, at one point, the White House said Walpin appeared "confused and disoriented" at a May 20th Board Meeting for Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which is the parent company of AmeriCorps.

Ever since being asked to respond, in writing, by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley to 12 specific questions about Walpin's firing, the White House appears to have chosen the somewhat interesting strategy known as stonewalling.

Possibly playing a significant role in the White House's decision to zip its lips may be those twelve questions (which went unanswered). Here are the questions Grassley issued to White House counsel Gregory Craig back on June 17th he wanted answered by June 24th:

1) Did the [Corporation for National and Community Service] Board communicate its concerns about Mr. Walpin to the White House in writing?
2) Specifically, which CNCS Board members came forward with concerns about Mr. Walpin’s ability to serve as the Inspector General?
3) Was the communication about the Board’s concerns on or about May 20, 2009 the first instance of any communications with White House personnel regarding the possibility of removing Mr. Walpin?
4) Which witnesses were interviewed in the course of Mr. Eisen’s review?
5) How many witnesses were interviewed?
6) Were any employees of the Office of Inspector General, who may have had more frequent contact with Mr. Walpin than the Board members, interviewed?
7) Was Mr. Walpin asked directly during Mr. Eisen’s review about the events of May 20, 2009?
8) Was Mr. Walpin asked for his response to the allegations submitted to the Integrity Committee by Acting U.S. Attorney Lawrence Brown?
9) What efforts were made during Mr. Eisen’s review to obtain both sides of the story or to afford the Office of Inspector General an opportunity to be heard?
10) In addition to the claim that Mr. Walpin was “confused” and “disoriented,” the letter also says he exhibited “other behavior” that led to questions about his capacity. What other behavior was Mr. Eisen referencing?
11) If the initial and primary concern had to do with Mr. Walpin’s capacity to serve for potential health reasons, why was he only given one hour to decide whether to resign or be fired?
12) If Mr. Walpin’s telecommuting arrangements since the beginning of this year were a major concern, then why was Mr. Walpin not simply asked to stop telecommuting?

Grassley wanted answers in writing by June 24th. He's still waiting. Here's York's piece from the 17th.

That leads us to the name Frank Trinity, a top official with CNCS who after meeting with congressional investigators, has decided to do a good impression of a mime that wants to be left alone.

Byron York, who has been following this particular IG story since the beginning has the full story

Now, more on that part about those behind Walpin's firing changing their stories while Walpin has been thoroughly consistent with his. Since the "confused and disoriented" defense hasn't served Obama well, it appears that the race card may now be getting played. Historically speaking, it's often a last line of defense.

(The reason for Walpin's firing) is particularly important to investigators, who believe the Obama administration may be constructing an after-the-fact rationale for canning Walpin.

What on earth for? Obama's people say Walpin appeared to be a few cards short of a full deck at a meeting. Doesn't that sufficiently cover it?

Who's appearing confused and disoriented now? Well, apparently the White House is because its story is not matching the story of Frank Trinity.

Now, the story has shifted again, to emphasize allegations of racial and gender insensitivity in a parody newsletter produced to mark the retirement of a worker in Walpin's office in May 2008.

When backed into a corner, scream 'RACISM', right?

Here's a link to the newsletter.

Truly problematic here is that Walpin DIDN'T WRITE ANYTHING IN THAT NEWSLETTER and its contents are actually rather innocuous to boot (see York's piece for quotes)!

If the White House's latest reason for firing Walpin is that he is guilty of vicariously exhibiting racism through the writer of a hokie (is 'hokie' racist?) newsletter, Obama should be starting to feel some significant heat.

Did I mention he's at -8 on the Presidential Approval Index?

h/t to PowerLine for posting the story