Posted by
Defend America on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 1:55:08 PM
White House blocks testimony by former top aide to First Lady
By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
12/22/09 9:12 AM EST
The
White House counsel's office has barred congressional investigators
from interviewing Jackie Norris, former chief of staff for First Lady
Michelle Obama, about events leading to the firing of AmeriCorps
inspector general Gerald Walpin. Republican investigators from the
House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform have wanted to
question Norris since they learned earlier this month that she met with
Alan Solomont, chairman of the Corporation for National and Community
Service, the organization that oversees AmeriCorps, on June 9, the day
before Walpin was summarily fired. Solomont was heavily involved in the
Walpin dismissal.
News of the White House action comes in a letter
to Norris from Rep. Darrell Issa, ranking Republican on the House
committee. "Our request to meet with you was denied by [Corporation for
National and Community Service] general counsel Frank Trinity," Issa
wrote to Norris. "Mr. Trinity told my staff that the White House
counsel's office has advised him that they were not permitting the
Corporation to make you available for an interview." Issa wrote that
the counsel's office further said it would "consider" the interview
request and let Issa know its decision. But Issa added that, "It has
been some time since we made our initial request to Mr. Trinity, and we
have not heard from him or the White House counsel's office." Issa made
the interview request on December 9.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/White-House-blocks-testimony-by-former-top-aide-to-First-Lady--79891752.html