Is Sacramento Mayor and former NBA all-star Kevin Johnson about to derail Obama's presidency? I doubt it. There's barely any smoke, let alone fire. I'm still trying to get my head around the controversy, but, from what I've read this morning, here's the nuts-and-bolts of what went down: According to various sources, Johnson reportedly misused federal funds for ST. HOPE Public Schools, a nonprofit education education program he established in 2001. After an extensive investigation, federal prosecutors ordered Johnson to return one-half of the original grant, approximately $400,000, to AmeriCorps, the federal agency that initially gave Johnson the money. Johnson complied. Case closed, right? Hardly. Here's where it gets a little sticky.
Gerald Walpin, the inspector general for the government-run Corporation for National and Community Service, which runs the AmeriCorps program, said Johnson got off easy, because he's Obama guy. He wrote as much to Congress, asking the legislative body review the case. In turn, acting U.S. Attorney Lawrence Brown requested the federal counsel of inspector generals review Walpin's performance, arguing that Walpin's conclusions in the Johnson investigation seemed overstated and, ultimately, biased. Last week, President Obama fired Walpin, saying he had lost confidence in the national service agency's inspector general.
Again, this all seems, more or less, aboveboard. Obama is within his legal rights to terminate Walpin, and both Alan Solomont, chairman of the government-run Corporation for National and Community Service, and Stephen Goldsmith, a Republican and the board's vice chair, have said they backed the president's decision to can Walpin, a 2007 George W. Bush appointee. This hasn't stopped Senator Chuck Grassley from calling for an investigation. Grassley seems to think Michelle Obama's behind all this, because her former chief of staff, Jackie Norris, is scheduled to join the Corporation for National and Community Service next week. That's quite a leap there, Senator Grassley. Even more impressive than this.
I honestly don't think President Obama has anything to worry about; this is, after all, Johnson's problem, and a minor one at that. The Sacramento Bee isn't exactly calling for Johnson's head. I doubt very much, though, that Obama wants to get dragged into this squabble as he prepares to revamp the country's health care system.
I honestly don't think President Obama has anything to worry about; this is, after all, Johnson's problem, and a minor one at that. The Sacramento Bee isn't exactly calling for Johnson's head. I doubt very much, though, that Obama wants to get dragged into this squabble as he prepares to revamp the country's health care system.
