The military never conducted an independent investigation into a 2019 bombing on the last bastion of the Islamic State, despite concerns about a secretive commando force.
Tag Archives: Inspectors General
State Dept. Report on Missing Gifts Finds Poor Oversight
The gift vault was “in a state of disarray,” and tens of thousands of dollars of items remain unaccounted for, including a $5,800 bottle of whiskey.
White Tiger and Cheetah Furs: A Mess of Trump Gift Exchanges
Gift exchanges between U.S. and foreign leaders, a highly regulated process, devolved into sometimes risible shambles during the Trump administration.
Justice Dept. to Weigh Prosecuting F.B.I. Agents in Nassar Case
The department said it was reviewing its initial decision to not seek charges against agents who failed to pursue sexual abuse allegations against Lawrence G. Nassar.
Cuomo Ally Resigns From Post as State Watchdog
Letizia Tagliafierro, the former inspector general, is the latest in a string of high-profile departures, as allies and appointees of the former governor leave state government.
Former Acting Attorney General Testifies About Trump’s Efforts to Subvert Election
The testimony highlights the former president’s desire to batter the Justice Department into advancing his personal agenda.
F.D.A. Requests Investigation of Its Own Alzheimer’s Drug Approval
The agency’s acting head said a federal review should look into whether any interactions between agency staff and the drug developer, Biogen, broke F.D.A. rules.
Homeland Security Watchdog Delayed Inquiry, Complaint Says
The department’s inspector general delayed looking into a retaliation complaint by a former intelligence chief until after the 2020 election, according to officials and a whistle-blower.
Garland Rebuffs a Potential Broad Look at Trump-Era Justice Dept.
The attorney general said that various inspector general inquiries would help uncover any wrongdoing and that he wanted to avoid politicizing the work of career officials.
Justice Dept. Watchdog and Senate Open Inquiries Into Seizure of Democrats’ Data
Democrats denounced the Trump administration’s seizure of lawmakers’ data as an abuse of power and called on Republicans to back the congressional inquiry.
Park Police Had Planned to Clear Area Before Trump’s Walk to Church, Watchdog Says
The report by the Interior Department’s inspector general did not investigate what other law enforcement agencies knew and who might have ordered them to use force to clear Lafayette Square.
Retired FBI Agent Is Accused of Swindling Woman Out of $800,000
The former agent told the woman she was on “secret probation” over drug crimes and at one point proposed marriage, federal prosecutors said.
As Trillions Flow Out the Door, Stimulus Oversight Faces Challenges
A sprawling system meant to police trillions of dollars is showing signs of strain as watchdogs warn of waste, fraud and abuse.
Pandemic Inspector General Warns of Oversight Breakdown
An internal dispute at the Treasury Department shows the challenge of tracking trillions of dollars of economic relief money.
Lack of Training Led Capitol Police to Temper Riot Response, Watchdog Says
The force’s inspector general testified that a top official ordered officers not to use their most powerful anti-riot tools on Jan. 6 because of concerns they did not know how.
Key Findings from the Inspector General’s Capitol Riot Report
Intelligence failures, orders to use less aggressive measures and equipment breakdowns contributed to the Capitol Police’s botched response, a watchdog found.
How to Tame the Presidency After Trump
Congress needs to find creative ways to engage the executive branch that favor cooperation over conflict.
Elaine Chao’s Mix of Work and Family Drew Early Ethics Scrutiny
An inspector general’s report provided new details of how ethics lawyers at the Transportation Department raised flags starting in 2017 about efforts to promote her family and its shipping business.
Congressman Harassed Staff and Got Drunk as White House Doctor, Watchdog Says
Ronny Jackson, a Republican who enthused that President Donald J. Trump had “incredible genes,” sexually harassed a woman on a White House trip and had “meltdowns” with his staff, a report found.
Inspector General’s Report Cites Elaine Chao for Misuse of Office
The report said the Justice Department declined to investigate her promotion of her family’s shipbuilding business while serving as transportation secretary in the Trump administration.
Watchdogs Appointed by Trump Pose Dilemma for Biden
Removing inspectors general installed by the former president under a political cloud could have the consequence of further eroding good-government norms.
Pentagon Begins Independent Inquiry Into Special Ops and War Crimes
The Defense Department inspector general will examine whether elite U.S. commando forces are doing enough to comply with the laws of armed conflict and hold violators accountable.
Watchdog to Examine Whether Justice Dept. Helped Trump Effort to Overturn Election
The inquiry was announced after revelations about a plot between Donald Trump and a top former department official to promote false claims of voter fraud by replacing the acting attorney general.
Trump and Aides Drove Family Separation at Border, Documents Say
Notes and testimony from a Justice Department official implicate President Trump and White House aides in the “zero tolerance” policy that led to family separations at the border.
Fire Robert Wilkie
The Department of Veterans Affairs secretary no longer has the trust of those who served.
Inspector General Criticizes V.A.’s Handling of Sexual Assault Complaint
The inspector general’s report also expressed disappointment that the V.A. did not determine whether to take action “to provide a safer and more welcoming environment” for women at its facilities.
Justice Dept. Is Said to Quietly Quash Inquiry Into Tamir Rice Killing
Supervisors denied civil-rights prosecutors’ request to use a grand jury for their investigation into the 2014 shooting of a Black boy by a Cleveland police officer, but did not tell his family.
‘We Need to Take Away Children,’ Jeff Sessions Said
Top department officials were “a driving force” behind President Trump’s child separation policy, a draft investigation report said.
1 Million Primary Ballots Were Mailed Late, Postal Service Watchdog Says
The findings underscore deep concerns about whether the agency will be able to process what is expected to be a significant increase in mail-in votes for the presidential election.
Spotting $62 Million in Alleged P.P.P. Fraud Was the Easy Part
Investigators have charged big spenders with cheating the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses. But more fraud lies below the surface, and it’ll be harder to find.
Justice Dept. Questions Former C.I.A. Director for 8 Hours
John O. Brennan is a witness, not a target, in the inquiry being led by John H. Durham, a U.S. attorney, but the C.I.A. under Barack Obama could be subject to further criticism by the Trump administration.
Military Surveillance Planes Didn’t Spy on Protesters, Pentagon Report Finds
But the Air Force’s inspector general concluded that National Guard officials failed to obtain prior approval from Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper to use the planes.
Ex-F.B.I. Lawyer Expected to Plead Guilty in Durham Investigation
Prosecutors are not expected to reveal any evidence of a broad anti-Trump conspiracy among law enforcement officials.
Woody Johnson Asked State Dept. Auditors to Delete Claims of Offensive Remarks from Report
The American ambassador to Britain rejected accusations that he made racially or sexually inappropriate comments toward employees at the U.S. Embassy in London.
Watchdog Says State Dept. Failed to Limit Civilian Deaths From Saudi Arms Sales
The inspector general also found the State Department avoided congressional review by dividing sales of controversial arms into smaller packages.
Another Inspector General Resigns, Raising Questions About Pompeo
Stephen J. Akard became the State Department’s internal watchdog after his predecessor was fired by President Trump at the urging of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was under investigation.
Report Slams Doctor at V.A. for Dismissing Suicide Risk of Patient Who Later Killed Himself
Six days after being removed by the police from a veterans hospital in Washington, the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
E.P.A. Inspector General to Investigate Trump’s Biggest Climate Rollback
The agency’s watchdog office said Monday it would investigate whether the reversal of Obama-era fuel efficiency standards violated government rules.
Top State Dept. Officials Enabled Misconduct by Pompeo, Whistle-Blower Said
A newly public copy of the whistle-blower’s complaint says that top officials who were protecting the secretary of state blocked the whistle-blower from addressing the issue internally.
Inquiry Prompted by Trump’s Hurricane Dorian Claim Is Being Blocked, Investigator Says
The Commerce Department is impeding findings into whether it coerced the top NOAA official to support President Trump’s inaccurate claim that Dorian would hit Alabama, the department’s inspector general said.
Pompeo Aide Who Pushed Saudi Arms Sale Said to Have Pressured Inspector General
Congress is looking into whether Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked President Trump to fire Steve Linick, the department’s inspector general, to retaliate for investigations.
Demand Answers on Trump’s Firing of Inspectors General
Congress is still owed answers about President Trump’s dismissal of inspectors general.
Ousted Watchdog Says State Dept. Official Pressured Him to End Inquiry Into Pompeo
Steve A. Linick, the former State Department inspector general, testified that a top agency official tried to “bully” him as he investigated the potential misconduct by the administration.
Senate Confirms Inspector General to Oversee Virus Bailout Funds
Brian D. Miller, the White House lawyer tapped to oversee the Treasury Department’s $500 billion fund, has said he would not be influenced by political pressure.
Flouting Norms, Trump Seeks to Bring Independent Watchdogs to Heel
The inspectors general system, a key post-Watergate reform to keep government honest, is coming under intense pressure by the president.
Pompeo Quietly Visits Conservative Donors and Political Figures on State Dept. Trips
The meetings, often kept off his public schedule, have taken place as Mike Pompeo nurtures plans for a presidential bid in 2024 and as he considered a run for the Senate from Kansas.
‘Where Are They?’: Biden Criticizes G.O.P. Over Trump’s Firing of Inspectors General
At a virtual round table discussion, the former vice president said that defending the independent watchdogs “used to be a hobbyhorse for Republican senators.”
Susan Pompeo Draws Scrutiny in Inquiry Over Dry Cleaning and Dog Walking
The wife of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is at the center of an investigation into whether a State Department employee was assigned to do household tasks.
Pompeo Defends Firing of Inspector General, Denying It Was Retaliation
Congressional officials said the inspector general was examining several areas of policy and potential misuse of government resources that had raised concerns about Mr. Pompeo’s actions.
Pompeo Declined Interview Request From Inspector General About Saudi Arms Sales
The secretary of state instead offered written answers. He was aware of the inquiry and the specific lines of questioning about his decision to resume the sales.