The Sacramento Bee has more on the firing of Gerald Walpin. There’s good background information here, but this is what looks to have precipitated Walpin’s firing:
Walpin’s office had conducted the investigation of St. HOPE Academy’s use of AmeriCorps funds and alleged that Johnson and officials with St. HOPE Academy improperly used some of the $847,673 in federal money received between 2004 and 2007.
The U.S. attorney’s office later negotiated a settlement that called for Johnson, St. HOPE and its former executive director, Dana Gonzalez, to repay more than $400,000 in grants.
Walpin opposed the settlement and recently asked Congress to review the case.
Following the initial investigation, U.S. Attorney Larry Brown asked a branch of the FBI that polices the integrity of federal inspectors general to review Walpin’s performance. Brown had questioned Walpin’s decision to make his investigation public without consulting the U.S. attorney’s office.
“Johnson” is former NBA guard Kevin Johnson, a friend and political supporter of President Obama.
Here’s a brief bio of Gerald Walpin. He’s no hack by any means.
And here’s a Bee article from May:
Inspector General Gerald Walpin also called Wednesday for the U.S. attorney’s office to take action based on Maya’s allegations. Walpin’s office conducted the investigation of St. HOPE Academy’s use of AmeriCorps funds.
“Given these circumstances, I believe that it would be (the) responsibility of the acting U.S. attorney to recuse himself and ask the court to appoint a special prosecutor who would, with the assistance of the FBI, convene a grand jury to investigate and determine whether there was an obstruction of justice,” Walpin said in a statement.
Might I suggest a special prosecutor that both the Right and Left can agree on? Someone like Patrick Fitzgerald? Grab the popcorn . . . this could get good.