Senators want hearing to look at propriety of Obama’s firing of Americorps investigator

Senators want hearing on Obama’s firing of IG

WASHINGTON — Two Republican senators asked Monday for a congressional hearing to look at whether President Barack Obama acted appropriately when he fired the national service agency’s inspector general earlier this month.

Sens. Mike Enzi of Wyoming and Orrin Hatch of Utah said they were concerned about “significant questions raised regarding the propriety of the decision to remove the IG.”

Obama fired Gerald Walpin, the inspector general who investigates AmeriCorps and other programs that are part of the Corporation for National Community Service, saying he had lost confidence in him. The firing followed an investigation by Walpin finding misuse of federal grants by a nonprofit education group led by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, who is an Obama supporter and former professional basketball star.

Johnson and a nonprofit education academy he founded ultimately agreed to repay half of $847,000 in grants it had received from AmeriCorps. Walpin was criticized by the acting U.S. attorney in Sacramento for the way he handled the investigation of Johnson and St. HOPE Academy.

Walpin has told The Associated Press that he reported facts and conclusions “in an honest and full way” while serving as IG.

Enzi and Hatch asked Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, to hold a hearing.

“We have asked for information from the White House counsel and CNCS, but they have not been forthcoming to date nor willing to commit to a timeframe,” the senators said in a letter to Kennedy.

A Kennedy spokeswoman, Melissa Wagoner, said the senator’s office was reviewing the request.