“If True, This Conduct By Government
Officials Would Be Intolerable”
Officials Would Be Intolerable”
Jason Howerton, TheBlaze — U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) officials ordered subordinates not to talk to congressional investigators about their investigation into illicit hiring practices and related whistleblower retaliation allegations, according to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Darell Issa (R-Calif.).Issa, in a letter obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, revealed that the deputy secretary of energy issued a gag order following the release of a highly critical inspector general report last week.
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), a division of the DOE, allegedly violated DOE hiring guidelines in a manner than disadvantaged military veterans, according to the scathing IG report.
The BPA employees who cooperated with the IG’s investigation were fired, suspended or disciplined in other ways, the report found.
Further, Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman “verbally instructed Elliot Mainzer, the individual [Poneman] chose to serve as acting administrator of BPA, that no BPA employees were to talk with anyone regarding these allegations, including congressional investigators,” Issa wrote in a July 17 letter.
Issa went on to warn that “obstructing a congressional investigation is a crime.”
“Additionally, denying or interfering with employees’ rights to furnish information to Congress is against the law,” he added.
In an email to the Free Beacon, Stephen M. Kohn, the executive director of the National Whistleblower Center expressed similar concerns.
He argued that any “attempt to ‘gag’ employees from communicating with Congress” represents a “gross violation of law.”
“It is highly illegal for any federal agency to attempt to prevent employees or contractors from communicating whistleblower concerns with Members of Congress or an Inspector General,” Kohn added. “If true, this conduct by government officials would be intolerable.”
“Oversight Committee spokesman Ali Ahmad told the Oregonian that a senior BPA official had informed the committee of Poneman’s gag order,” according to the Free Beacon. » Full Article
To read the Washington Free Beacon’s entire report, click here.
» TheBlaze
» Jason Howerton | Article Archive
Other Breaking News Items On TheBlaze
» TREY GOWDY ABSOLUTELY UNLOADS ON KEY OBAMA ADVISOR: ‘DEMAGOGIC, SELF-SERVING, POLITICAL HACK’
The South Carolina congressman’s remarks were made in reference to White House adviser Dan Pfeifer who recently tweeted the following remarks: La Opinion nails the cruel hypocrisy of the GOP immigration plan:allow some kids to stay but deport their parents.
» MARK O’MARA EXPLAINS WHY THE FAMILY RESCUED BY GEORGE ZIMMERMAN INEXPLICABLY CANCELED ITS PRESS CONFERENCE
“Connecting yourself with George Zimmerman is right now very toxic.”
» ‘FU** ALL YOU LIBTARDS OUT THERE’: VULGAR YOUTUBE RANTS BY A LOCAL POLICE CHIEF…AND THE MAYOR WHO’S STANDING BEHIND HIM
*WARNING: All of the videos in this story contain graphic, profane, and offensive language.*