I mentioned yesterday a WaPo story about an arrest at the DC (municipal) Office of the Chief Technology Officer. Former CTO Vivek Kundra left there on March 4 to become the Obama Administration’s chief information officer.
Hours after the first report, a second arrest revealed that a mid-level employee in the CTO’s office and a businessman who contracted with it had been charged in a bribery scheme. Today, WaPo says three other lower-level people in the office are also involved but haven’t been charged.
The earliest stories failed to make clear whether Kundra himself was implicated. Although the White House told CNN that he’s taking a leave from his post at OMB “until more details become known,” “A law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that Kundra is not involved in the case.” The AP quotes DC Mayor Adrian Fenty saying the same thing.
So it’s hard to figure out why Kundra (who was reportedly giving a speech when the FBI raid and arrests took place) is taking leave, unless it’s just a matter of over-abundant caution. I’ll watch for developments and keep you posted, but for now this is raising as many questions as answers.
“Kundra is not involved in the case.”
Riiiight. IF he was in charge when all of this corruption was going on, then I think he was “involved”. Does the buck ever stop anywhere anymore?
For the same reasons that I suggested Cochran step down due to the Copland matter, I think it reasonable to hold Kundra accountable for what was going on in an office in which he was in charge. This accountability should be irrespective of whether it can be proven that he committed a crime or not. Kundra should step down or be forced to step down. Someone supervising over such a mess would likely have a hard time finding a private enterprise job. Why should our government standards, at the highest levels, be any lower? Even the appearance of impropriety at this level of government can be detrimental to public confidence. Surely, there is some other qualified candidate for this position without all this unnecessary baggage.
BTW: There seems to be a pattern of corruption investigations coming to an abrupt premature halt when they reach any part of the Obama administration (eg. Blagovich matter, when plug pulled too early for no good reason). The message seems to be that if one wants protection from prosecution, then join the Obama team.
friend @ 1
Has the Blagovich investigation been closed? I missed the news. Are there other instances that fit the “pattern” you see here?
Sorry, AFOTL … civilians are too soft for the “vertical stroke” the military inflicts on superiors for failures and derelictions of their subordinates. You are too. If Kundra did anything wrong, he will be held to answer for it. If he’s not, he won’t. Simple as that. Don’t waste your gas calling for others’ heads or claiming someone is covering up for others. It won’t wash.
I had the distinct impression that Patrick Fitzgerald had been kept on as US Atty in Chicago so that the Blagovitch mess would not go away. Who says it’s over?
The glacial nature of these things have people frequently saying nothing will happen. I remember distinctly that being said about judge DeLaughter.
That WaPo story I linked this morning says (again) that Fitzgerald is staying on and the Blago case is anything but closed.