Gerald Walpin speaks: The inside story of the AmeriCorps firing
Washington Examiner ^ | June 14, 2009 | Byron York



The White House's decision to fire AmeriCorps inspector general Gerald Walpin came amid politically-charged tensions inside the Corporation for National and Community Service, the organization that runs AmeriCorps. Top executives at the Corporation, Walpin explained in an hour-long interview Saturday, were unhappy with his investigation into the misuse of AmeriCorps funds by Kevin Johnson, the former NBA star who is now mayor of Sacramento, California and a prominent supporter of President Obama. Walpin's investigation also sparked conflict with the acting U.S. attorney in Sacramento amid fears that the probe -- which could have resulted in Johnson being barred from ever winning another federal grant -- might stand in the way of the city receiving its part of billions of dollars in federal stimulus money. After weeks of standoff, Walpin, whose position as inspector general is supposed to be protected from influence by political appointees and the White House, was fired.


Walpin learned his fate Wednesday night. He was driving to an event in upstate New York when he received a call from Norman Eisen, the Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform. "He said, 'Mr. Walpin, the president wants me to tell you that he really appreciates your service, but it's time to move on,'" Walpin recalls. "Eisen said, 'You can either resign, or I'll tell you that we'll have to terminate you.'"


At that moment, Walpin says, he had finished not only a report on the Sacramento probe but also an investigation into extensive misuse of AmeriCorps money by the City University of New York, which is AmeriCorps' biggest program. Walpin says he told Eisen that, given those two investigations, neither of which was well-received by top Corporation management, the timing of his firing seemed "very interesting." According to Walpin, Eisen said it was "pure coincidence."....


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Comments:

comment by troutbend on June 18, 2009 12:56 PM ()

Yep... that's me... stir up trouble Annie. If you think that... then you really don't know me. The real me = is very very concerned with what is happening in Washington. The President has broken the law and no one seems to be concerned and now to get around what he has done, Obama is saying that Gerald Walpin is too confused to do his job. I'd sure be upset if I were Gerald Walpin.

reply by anniel on June 18, 2009 2:44 PM ()

It's always the case, do your job well and you still get screwed. Nothing in Washington surprises me anymore

comment by redwolftimes on June 16, 2009 11:35 AM ()

Thanks for the comment. The rest of greasy just hasn't figured it out.

reply by anniel on June 16, 2009 9:42 PM ()

Those who read this information and keep silent must support the Presidents illegal move. I guess you will be happy living in a dictatorship.