Walpin’s audit of St. HOPE, which sought to find out how the organization had spent $847,673 in grant funds from AmeriCorps, came in the middle of Johnson’s reelection campaign. At that time, Walpin raised the specter of funds being diverted and misused by Johnson’s organization. The Democrat and supporter of Obama called the investigation “politically motivated,” and his aides brought up details about Walpin’s support for Republican Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to indicate bias on his part. In 2007 and 2008, Walpin donated money to the presidential campaigns of Rudy Giuliani and John McCain.

 

In April, St. HOPE Academy agreed to a settlement with the federal government to pay $423,836.50, of which $72,836.50 came out of Johnson’s pocket. Walpin was cut out of those negotiations to settle the matter.

 

After hearing of the inspector general’s firing, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) complained to Obama in a letter, which reminded him that he had supported legislation last year as a U.S. senator requiring the president to give Congress 30 days notice in writing of the reasons for terminating or transferring any inspector general.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

President Obama Fires Controversial Inspector General (by Jake Tapper, ABC News)

Flagrant Foul? (by Jake Wiens, Project on Government Oversight)

Gerald Walpin: Obama Removes AmeriCorps's IG (Ann Sanner and Pete Yost, Associated Press)

What's Behind Obama's Sudden Attempt to Fire the AmeriCorps Inspector General? (by Byron York, Washington Examiner)