Posted by D. Cupples | Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee questioned State Dept. Inspector 
General Howard Krongard, whom employees have accused of impeding investigations into waste, fraud and other crimes that could embarrass the Bush Administration or some corporate supporters.
Krongard allegedly impeded a Justice Department probe into whether contractor Blackwater had illegally smuggled arms into Iraq, which is why Krongard's brother Alvin ("Buzzy") became a focal point.
Committee members asked Krongard if Buzzy, a former CIA officer, was involved with Blackwater. (See report)
It wasn't just a nasty rumor implying that Krongard had allowed potential conflicts of interest. The Committee had a July email from Blackwater CEO Erik Prince that invited Buzzy onto Blackwater's advisory board and a September email implying that Buzzy had accepted.
Krongard denied it, saying that Buzzy had told him in October that he hadn't accepted Blackwater's invitation. After a recess, Krongard said that he had phoned Buzzy, who confirmed that he had accepted. At Rep. Diane Watson's (D-CA) urging, Krongard immediately recused himself from Blackwater-related investigations. (Hearing video)
Led by Rep. Chris Shays (R-CN), several Republican committee members leapt to Krongard's defense and insulted Democrats for pursuing the investigation. Republicans had behaved similarly when Condoleezza Rice and Erik Prince testified.
Usually, committee chairman Henry Waxman lets the insults slide but not this time....
Instead, Waxman said what many spectators were likely thinking:
"Our investigations and our hearing today have been belittled by the Republicans. When they were in power, they didn't do any investigations over anything that might embarrass the Bush Administration.... The constitution spells out that we have a job providing checks and balances." (see hearing video at 4:18 - 4:20)
During Oversight Committee hearings these days, many Republicans do talk as though they despise corruption probes -- the way most cats despise bath water.
In part, employees (and ex-employees) have accused Krongard of:
-Refusing to pursue procurement fraud charges involving DynCorp,
-Intervening in the investigation of a friend of Karl Rove,
-Scrubbing the State Dept.'s financial statements, and
-Failing to oversee the construction of the embassy in Iraq.
Related BN-Politics' Posts:
* Inspector General Blocked Investigations re: Waste and Fraud?
* There's Something About Blackwater
* DynCorp Joins Blackwater as Probe Target
* Probe re: Embassy in Iraq & State Dept. Officials
* Blackwater Took Iraqi Airplanes, CEO Misled Congress?
* Blackwater Hearing: Poor Media Coverage
* Blackwater Uses Fuzzy Math to Justify Costs
* State Dept.'s Odd & Untimely Reactions to Blackwater Scandals
* State Dept. Staff Threatened for Cooperating with Congress re: Blackwater
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