To the United States Court for the District of Columbia, to be exact. It’s not making the mainstream media news, but Gerald Walpin, the U.S. Inspector General who was illegally strong-armed to resign by -ironically in any other world – the President’s Special Council for Ethics and Government Reform and when he refused found himself quickly fired from his position last month for insisting rules be followed during an AmeriCorps audit that found gross misuse of funds by Kevin Johnson, former NBA player and, wouldn’t you know it, one of President Obama’s close friends, has filed a lawsuit against the Corporation for National and Community Service (it oversees AmeriCorps). The suit alleges the firing was “unlawful,” “politically driven,” “procedurally defective” and “a transparent and clumsily-conducted effort to circumvent the protections” given to inspectors general under the Inspectors General Reform Act of 2008. The lawsuit also rightfully raises questions about age discrimination based on the flimsy “excuses” that finally dribbled out from the Orchid Office, as well as questions about whistleblower retaliation.
As has been documented, no one except Mr. Walpin followed the law where AmeriCorps or the Corporation for National and Community Service are concerned, so our hats are off to him for standing up for what’s right. Tellingly, he isn’t seeking punative damages, only that the Court declare his firing was unlawful, reinstatement of his position, and that his attorney fees be paid.
Now unless there are critical facts of which we are yet unaware (the “personality conflicts” being bandied about by some in an attempt to discredit Mr. Walpin do not count when documenting how taxpayer monies are used), this case stands to bring transparency to the workings of the Obama administration. The kind of transparency that can finally begin to bring about the change America needs, not the change Obama and merry band of thieves want.