« It Never Hurts to Ask | Main | Value for the Money? The Defense Budget Blackhole »
Breaking News: FBI Agents Raid OSC Offices
The Wall Street Journal and NPR are reporting that FBI agents have raided the offices of Special Counsel Scott Bloch, seizing computers and documents belonging to Bloch and his staff as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged obstruction of justice. Although Bloch has not been officially charged with any crime, FBI agents also searched his home and shut down email access at OSC offices across the country.
The Journal previously reported that Bloch hired a private tech company, Geeks on Call, to conduct a seven-layer scrub of his computer and several office laptops. Bloch claimed he was deleting a virus, but investigators suspect that he was destroying evidence related to allegations that he had used his office for political purposes and retaliated against career employees.
We'll keep you posted as we learn more.
-- Michael Smallberg
UPDATE: Click here for more background on Scott Bloch and the Office of Special Counsel. You can also learn more by reading POGO's previous blog posts:
http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2007/11/bloch-scrubs-di.html
http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2007/05/office_of_speci.html
http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2006/09/leave_sharon_st.html
http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2006/05/who_wrote_this_.html
http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2005/01/purge_at_agency.html
UPDATE 2: POGO is especially interested in what turns up, as we are in the midst of completing an investigation into OSC's handling of whistleblower disclosures and whistleblowing reprisals complaints from Federal Air Marshals.
May 6, 2008 in Watching the Watchdogs, Whistleblower Protection | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/108150/28817884
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Breaking News: FBI Agents Raid OSC Offices:
Comments
For who the whistle blows? I'm surprised whistleblowers aren't extinct by now. The truth will set you free...from your job. I think there should be a whistleblower's Hall of Fame in Washington. They are today's gladiators in the coliseum of public opinion. Thumbs up or thumbs down America? Oh, look what they did to that one. It is truly the only reality show to watch where the participants lose their jobs, their good names, their self respect, and occasionally their lives. Their crimes? Public safety, gross mismanagement, abuse of authority. What crime are you guilty of America, apathy?
Posted by: Edward Block | May 7, 2008 10:08:02 PM
Dear Readers, 5/7/2008
I intended to not respond to this Article, although in response and in narrow context and in my opinion to the last nine words and ? from Mr. Huffman....'professional integrity and accountability and honest oversight by congress?...'. In my view and opinion that without immediate full and complete, uncoerced and truthfully intended Accountability and/or immediate empeachment process of our Executive, Judicial and Legislative leaders and representatives where applicable that there appears to be insufficient, little or no professional integrity and accountability and honest oversight by congress. Although, please note that I highly appreciate all good efforts that may be accorded the Congressional Oversight Committee and the Federal Bureau of Investigations for their valuable efforts to support our Democracy with their individual continuing process within this Investigation. Also as this POGO website is an advocate of the TP Muckraker website, I also recommend this website for further review on this OSC item which include blog articles and responses which include many allegations and articles in reference to Washington, DC and recent comments to the OSC, Lurita Doan, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney and something about the OSC halting a Hatch Act Violation Investigation against Secretary of State Condolesa Rice.
Please note that although I have not read of the reasons why Supreme court Justice Breyer has changed his views and is now against the death penalty, I am proud that he has as the US enactment of the death penalty is against all reasonable and proper Law and Democracy, without merit to God, Man and Country and within all interpretations thereof that could easily be interpreted by reasonable and just individuals. Also it is with sadness that i note that Democratic Chairman, Lawyer and Doctor Howard Dean and Presidential Nominee Hiliray Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore have continued to not find their own salvation and redemption and continue to support this henious act of the US Death Penalty in clear violation of proper interpretation, respect and regard of Law, Democracy and Religon and in clear violation of God, Man and Country.
Thank you and all for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Axel
Posted by: Axel | May 7, 2008 12:58:16 PM
The OPM Inspector General, who has " investigated" the OSC for three years without result, ruthlessly retalliated against his own whistleblowers, engaged in fraudulent and prohibited hiring practices that purposely discriminated against the hiring of military veterans, suborned fraud by having illegally hired audit employees instructed by a senior audit manager to lie on government employment applications, and rewarded rewarded the offending audit manager with promotion to the Senior Executive Service. All of this, to include the planning for issuance of phoney employment vacancies to cover the IG's fraud, was accomplished in complicity with OPM. When will the FBI be raiding OPM or are presidentially appointed IG's exempt as they are from term limits, professional integrity and accountability. and honest oversight by congress?
Posted by: Ken Huffman | May 7, 2008 11:46:47 AM
Would the timing of this to coincide with two states' primary polls have anything to do with anything? Who has an interest in keeping the media attention off this subject?
Posted by: | May 6, 2008 8:43:06 PM
Didn't POGO do previous blogging on Mr. Bloch? Do you have this information conveniently together?
Posted by: | May 6, 2008 1:58:34 PM
