Via Byron York:

“Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill has become the first Democrat to question the White House over the firing of AmeriCorps inspector general Gerald Walpin. McCaskill, who, like Republican Sen. Charles Grassley, is a champion of inspectors general, co-wrote the 2008 legislation requiring the president to give 30 days’ notice, and cause, before firing an inspector general. In a statement released this afternoon, McCaskill says that the reason the president gave for firing Walpin — that the president no longer has “the fullest confidence” in Walpin — is, in McCaskill’s words, “not sufficient.” And McCaskill is calling on the White House to offer a fuller explanation as soon as possible. Here is McCaskill’s statement:

The White House has failed to follow the proper procedure in notifying Congress as to the removal of the Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service. The legislation which was passed last year requires that the president give a reason for the removal. “Loss of confidence” is not a sufficient reason. I’m hopeful the White House will provide a more substantive rationale, in writing, as quickly as possible.”

Meanwhile there is growing call for an investigation into whether Michelle Obama had any role to play in Walpin’s firing. We can know that Walpin’s firing wasn’t “routine” or “ordinary”, and it has become evident that Walpin’s audit which found that more than $75 million dollars that was wasted on programs that do not meet criteria for funding.

Which is interesting because Obama ran on a platform to identify and eradicate such waste.

However, this from the AP gives us all we need to know.

“Obama’s move follows an investigation by Walpin finding misuse of federal grants by a nonprofit education group led by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, who is an Obama supporter and former NBA basketball star. Johnson and a nonprofit education academy he founded ultimately agree to repay half of $847,000 in grants it had received from AmeriCorps.”

Byron York is on it. But the question is whether Grassley can get enough support to open a full investigation.

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