Ok guys, so there is a HOT MESS going down at the Interior Department right now. It's important but a little complicated. I'm gonna attempt a thread to explain.
The story starts, as all great political dramas do, with Ben Carson.
On Friday, Carson sent an email to HUD staff saying that one of his political appointees was leaving to become inspector general at Interior, overseeing investigations into Ryan Zinke.
On Friday, Carson sent an email to HUD staff saying that one of his political appointees was leaving to become inspector general at Interior, overseeing investigations into Ryan Zinke.
The implication of this email is that Zinke fired his existing inspector general—an independent position—to hire this new political appointee to investigate him. Zinke, btw, is under MAD investigations.
On Tuesday, the email leaks. People freak TF out.
On Tuesday, the email leaks. People freak TF out.
Two days of outrage pass. Then on Thursday, Zinke’s spokesperson suddenly says Ben Carson's email to staff contained "false information."
The political appointee was merely *interviewed* for a position at the inspector general’s office, but never hired, spokesperson says.
The political appointee was merely *interviewed* for a position at the inspector general’s office, but never hired, spokesperson says.
Zinke’s spokesperson also says Zinke couldn’t have fired the existing inspector general, because only the White House can reassign Senate-confirmed positions.
This is technically true, but there's a catch...
This is technically true, but there's a catch...
The Interior Department’s current inspector general was not actually confirmed by the Senate. She’s been in an “acting” role for 10 years.
So Zinke *can* technically fire her.
So Zinke *can* technically fire her.
Anyway, last night, in the midst of all this confusion, the Interior’s current inspector general (the one suspected to be fired) released a report about Zinke.
It found that Zinke broke department rules by spending thousands of taxpayer dollars on travel with his wife.
It found that Zinke broke department rules by spending thousands of taxpayer dollars on travel with his wife.
This report is a big deal. It found Zinke wasted $25,000 of taxpayer dollars on unnecessary security (sound familiar?)
So, one can see why Zinke might want to change who's in charge of writing those reports.
Anyway, more here. newrepublic.com/article/151796…
So, one can see why Zinke might want to change who's in charge of writing those reports.
Anyway, more here. newrepublic.com/article/151796…
