Today's Article
Did Karl Rove and
other GOP spin
doctors push for an
illegal use of
taxpayer resources
for partisan political
purposes?
other GOP spin
doctors push for an
illegal use of
taxpayer resources
for partisan political
purposes?
The American Spark
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Congress Gave Last-Minute Funds Boost To White House
Briefings Probe
By Cliff Montgomery -Jan. 14th, 2008
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) soon will receive a few extra dollars to continue its probe into numerous
Bush Administration briefings which may have called for an illegal misuse of government power and resources
for partisan political purposes.
The Democratic-led Congress tucked into its omnibus spending bill an extra $1.1 million for the ongoing
investigation. The legislation was signed by George W. Bush in December.
OSC's eight-month-old probe has zeroed in on GOP-led briefings about partisan political strategy, presented
by former Bush White House spin doctor Karl Rove and others to administration appointees at almost all U.S.
government agencies from 2001-2006.
Among other partisan matters, Rove and other Republican spin doctors are said to have openly encouraged
federal officials to give grants or contracts to GOP congressional districts which were in danger of being lost to
Democrats or Independents.
If true, such calls would be asking for clear breaches of the Hatch Act, a federal law meant to keep virtually
every federal worker from using the powers of their office for partisan politics. The law forbids agency bosses
from applying pressure on federal employees to influence an election outcome, and bars the use of
taxpayer-funded federal resources--including phones, office buildings and computers--for partisan schemes.
The Bush White House claims that no laws were broken during the meetings--but as Republicans themselves
like to say, "that doesn't pass the smell test."
The OSC frankly had requested even more money. It was hoping for an extra $2.9 million for the investigation,
but initially neither the Senate nor the House had passed legislation to increase the agency's budget.
James Mitchell, an OSC spokesman, told CongressDaily that budget appropriators later spoke to agency
representatives about their funding needs for the probe. An OSC budget increase was quietly added to the
omnibus legislation during final negotiations, which occurred just before the congressional Christmas recess.
"House and Senate appropriators did not respond to inquiries regarding who made the change," reported
CongressDaily on Jan 7th.
The legislation declares that the extra funding will "assist OSC with computer forensics in connection with its
special task force investigations."
Along with added manpower, the agency requested more finances to further its computer forensic procedures
as part of the White House inquiry. OSC has declared it currently is investigating whether White House
employees misused campaign email accounts to hide illegal political activities. The Bush Administration claims
a large number of those emails were deleted.
Mitchell told CongressDaily that the extra dollars will "enhance our ability to continue our expanded Hatch Act
investigation." But despite its specified designation, the additional funds may well be used on some of the
probe's other matters. The OSC currently is questioning federal employees based on evidence received from a
number of agencies, added Mitchell.
The financial aid comes at a time of continued criticism of the OSC investigation. Though much of the talk
comes from members of the Far Right, three reasoned government watchdog groups have asked Congress to
cease giving additional funds to the agency until a separate, two-year-old Office of Personnel Management
investigation of Special Counsel Scott Bloch, current head of OSC, has been completed.
The Government Accountability Project, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and Project on
Government Oversight have jointly filed a complaint against the OSC head, stating that Bloch retaliated
against office whistleblowers.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
Briefings Probe
By Cliff Montgomery -Jan. 14th, 2008
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) soon will receive a few extra dollars to continue its probe into numerous
Bush Administration briefings which may have called for an illegal misuse of government power and resources
for partisan political purposes.
The Democratic-led Congress tucked into its omnibus spending bill an extra $1.1 million for the ongoing
investigation. The legislation was signed by George W. Bush in December.
OSC's eight-month-old probe has zeroed in on GOP-led briefings about partisan political strategy, presented
by former Bush White House spin doctor Karl Rove and others to administration appointees at almost all U.S.
government agencies from 2001-2006.
Among other partisan matters, Rove and other Republican spin doctors are said to have openly encouraged
federal officials to give grants or contracts to GOP congressional districts which were in danger of being lost to
Democrats or Independents.
If true, such calls would be asking for clear breaches of the Hatch Act, a federal law meant to keep virtually
every federal worker from using the powers of their office for partisan politics. The law forbids agency bosses
from applying pressure on federal employees to influence an election outcome, and bars the use of
taxpayer-funded federal resources--including phones, office buildings and computers--for partisan schemes.
The Bush White House claims that no laws were broken during the meetings--but as Republicans themselves
like to say, "that doesn't pass the smell test."
The OSC frankly had requested even more money. It was hoping for an extra $2.9 million for the investigation,
but initially neither the Senate nor the House had passed legislation to increase the agency's budget.
James Mitchell, an OSC spokesman, told CongressDaily that budget appropriators later spoke to agency
representatives about their funding needs for the probe. An OSC budget increase was quietly added to the
omnibus legislation during final negotiations, which occurred just before the congressional Christmas recess.
"House and Senate appropriators did not respond to inquiries regarding who made the change," reported
CongressDaily on Jan 7th.
The legislation declares that the extra funding will "assist OSC with computer forensics in connection with its
special task force investigations."
Along with added manpower, the agency requested more finances to further its computer forensic procedures
as part of the White House inquiry. OSC has declared it currently is investigating whether White House
employees misused campaign email accounts to hide illegal political activities. The Bush Administration claims
a large number of those emails were deleted.
Mitchell told CongressDaily that the extra dollars will "enhance our ability to continue our expanded Hatch Act
investigation." But despite its specified designation, the additional funds may well be used on some of the
probe's other matters. The OSC currently is questioning federal employees based on evidence received from a
number of agencies, added Mitchell.
The financial aid comes at a time of continued criticism of the OSC investigation. Though much of the talk
comes from members of the Far Right, three reasoned government watchdog groups have asked Congress to
cease giving additional funds to the agency until a separate, two-year-old Office of Personnel Management
investigation of Special Counsel Scott Bloch, current head of OSC, has been completed.
The Government Accountability Project, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and Project on
Government Oversight have jointly filed a complaint against the OSC head, stating that Bloch retaliated
against office whistleblowers.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!