Moral Check-Mate

Interesting revelations, these. The former inspector general for the Corporation for National and Community Service who had brought forward an investigation into alleged misuse of federal grants by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has found himself out of a job. Mr. Johnson has been a staunch supporter of President Obama. And Mr. Walpin's findings evidently ran afoul of what the administration felt it could support.

And so, Mr. Walpin was fired from his position. Not, ostensibly, for his having fingered Mr. Johnson, but evidently because Mr. Walpin was found to be incapable of performing his job adequately. Mr. Obama evidently tasked his special counsel to write an explanatory letter to Senate leaders critical of the firing of Mr. Walpin without even the courtesy (let alone that it is required by law) of a 30-day notification period.

In which letter Mr. Eisen, special counsel to the president, claimed Mr. Walpin presented himself in a "confused, disoriented" state, "unable to answer questions, and exhibited other behaviour that led the board to question his capacity to serve". Oh, and it was divulged that Mr. Walpin had committed the offence of working from home, despite that Mr. Walpin insisted he had an agreement with the corporation's board that would allow him to work from home.

Mr. Walpin believes he was targeted for political reasons. The government watchdog was, evidently, too good at his job. Alas, the diligent watchdog dug himself into a hole. "I am now the target of the most powerful man in this country, with an army of aides whose major responsibility today seems to be to attack me and get rid of me", Mr. Walpin complained.

And he also claims that the charge against him that he evidenced a "lack of candor" in the provision of information to decision-makers, constituted an outright falsification - all right: lie. Someone has made an unlawful U-turn somewhere in the deep confines of accountability. And it doesn't really sound as though it's the unfortunate Mr. Walpin.

And it doesn't appear as though heads others than his will roll. And isn't that so often the way the cookie crumbles?