Lawmakers Ask for Probe of NASA Official

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Lawmakers Ask for Probe of NASA Official

By MIKE SCHNEIDER
Thursday, June 14, 2007; 10:14 PM

HOUSTON -- Two congressional leaders asked the Department
of Justice on Thursday to investigate whether NASA's general
counsel broke the law when he destroyed recordings of a talk
between the space agency's boss and the staff of its internal
watchdog office.

Last month Michael Wholley told the House subcommittee that
oversees NASA that he broke the CD recordings and threw them
]into the trash because he thought that if they were kept by
the agency, they could be subject to public records laws.

Reps. Brad Miller, D-N.C., and James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.,
who lead the subcommittee, said Wholley may have destroyed
government records and tried to obstruct a congressional
investigation into NASA's Inspector General Office.

"Wholley's knowing destruction of sensitive records in his
possession was a great detriment to our committee's
investigations," the lawmakers said in a letter to Attorney
General Alberto Gonzales.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/14/AR2007061402335.html

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Related GD thread: Science Subcommittee Urges Criminal Investigation of NASA General Counsel

[aquart]

1. Is there jail for record destruction?

I really want it to be a nasty criminal offense.

[Eugene]

2. Yes, they are referring Wholley to the DoJ for investigation and possible prosecution.

The charges are obstruction of justice and
destruction of government records.

The letter to AG Gonzales is available here:
Science Subcommittee Urges Criminal Investigation of NASA General Counsel

[maddezmom]

3. NASA is a mess, remember NASA Inspector General Robert "Moose" Cobb

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2873470

[struggle4progress]

4. Key lawmakers demand inquiry of NASA lawyer

By Mark K. Matthews

The Orlando Sentinel

(MCT)

WASHINGTON - ~snip~ The meeting - attended by Inspector General Robert "Moose" Cobb, his staff and NASA Administrator Michael Griffin - was called to address findings by a special White House investigative panel that Cobb verbally abused subordinates and created the appearance he lacked independence from the agency he is supposed to monitor. Griffin had responded by ordering Cobb to attend leadership-training sessions.

NASA public affairs officials taped the meeting for the benefit of employees who couldn't attend. But the session became controversial after Griffin defended Cobb and told auditors to limit the scope of their work.

Attendees told Congress that Griffin said he was interested only in audits and recommendations that saved NASA at least $1 billion, according to the letter sent to Gonzales. The inspector general is supposed to be independent and take no orders from the NASA administrator. ~snip~

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/17373061.htm