Head of Rove Inquiry in Hot Seat Himself

[sabra]

Source: WSJ

Bloch Used Private Company,
Geeks on Call, to Delete Files
On His Office Computer


WASHINGTON -- The head of the federal agency investigating Karl Rove's White House political operation is facing allegations that he improperly deleted computer files during another probe, using a private computer-help company, Geeks on Call.

Scott Bloch runs the Office of Special Counsel, an agency charged with protecting government whistleblowers and enforcing a ban on federal employees engaging in partisan political activity. Mr. Bloch's agency is looking into whether Mr. Rove and other White House officials used government agencies to help re-elect Republicans in 2006.

At the same time, Mr. Bloch has himself been under investigation since 2005. At the direction of the White House, the federal Office of Personnel Management's inspector general is looking into claims that Mr. Bloch improperly retaliated against employees and dismissed whistleblower cases without adequate examination.

Recently, investigators learned that Mr. Bloch erased all the files on his office personal computer late last year. They are now trying to determine whether the deletions were improper or part of a cover-up, lawyers close to the case said.

...

Mr. Bloch said no documents relevant to any investigation were affected. He also says the employee claims against him are unwarranted. Mr. Bloch believes the White House may have a conflict of interest in pressing the inquiry into his conduct while his office investigates the White House political operation. Concerned about possible damage to his reputation, he cites a Washington saying, "You're innocent until investigated."

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119621772122306160.html...

[MidwestTransplant]

1. ""You're innocent until investigated." No Your are innocent until you delete all your computer

files and handle a non partisan job in a partisan fashion. Will this be another Bush official to resign or go to jail?

[Ian David]

2. This is why we need to bring back the special prosecutor! Shit, man! n/t

[Supersedeas]

3. and how long as this 'investigation' (cover-up) by the Special Counsel been on-going?

[focusfan]

4. I don't understand why they can't look at the hard drive

they do that in FBI cases

[cally]

5. Bloch must be getting close to filing charges against * cabal

It's the WH sop to destroy critic's reputations.

[Robbien]

8. Bloch is not investigating anyone. David Corn wrote about him in the Nation in April

The Times story did not provide background on the fellow who will be examining whether Rove and other administration officials may have violated the law by using political email accounts for White House business, by explicitly encouraging government actions for direct partisan gains, and by dismissing David Iglesias, a US attorney in New Mexico. Bloch is a George W. Bush appointee, and his recent record is not one of a relentless pursuer of government corruption and wrongdoing. Here’s an overview:

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/04/25/756 /

This is the third time this story has tried to get out. The WaPo did an article on Bloch in February. The Nation did a story on him in April and now this one by the WSJ.

The story gets told with one article in a major news site but and then somehow, mysteriously, very quickly dies out. No major media push so very few people are aware.

This is the story that Rove is scared about IMO.

[cally]

9. Thanks and kick

[havocmom]

6. Fox hired by snakes to look into raid on hen house

Finds feathers.... around his mouth

[donkeyotay]

7. Exactly. Justice blocked again. How 'bout that. nt

[benld74]

10. GEE, wonder who leaked this? HUH? Any guesses? Come on

[underpants]

11. "At the direction of the White House"

Nixon used the IRS

[JimboDem]

12. Paging * Senator Leahy.

How convenient, Messrs Bloch and Rove.