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Monday, November 20, 2006
Is NASA's Oversight Chief the Next Michael Brown?
Another Bush administration official is in hot water today after documents related to an internal government investigation into NASA Inspector General Robert Cobb were leaked to the Orlando Sentinel. The Sentinel has a must read, detailed review of the investigation, conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development on behalf of the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE).
The investigation looks into 69 allegations against Cobb by current and former employees who charge him with stifling investigations and audits, mistreating and berating employees, and maintaining too cozy of a relationship with the political leadership of NASA he was supposed to be independently monitoring.
At least initially, the investigation looks pretty damaging, and the facts are helping Mr. Cobb either. According to the Sentinel report, the investigation cites that in the two years before Cobb's arrival at NASA, the IG's office issued 51 audit reports annually on average. Since then, the office has averaged only 26 reports per year.
The findings of the investigation have been forwarded to the PCIE and they are expected to make a decision by the end of the year about what, if any, action is appropriate. Cobb denies any wrongdoing, but one key fact may doom his chances of making it through this unscathed: The investigation into Cobb was originally requested by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), who will be taking over in January as chairman of the Senate subcommittee responsible for NASA oversight.
Orlando Sentinel: Complaints fuel probe of NASA inspector
Posted by Adam Hughes
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