State Dept official's brother linked to Blackwater

[cal04]

By Susan Cornwell
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N14204301.htm

The State Department's top investigator recused himself on Wednesday from probes into the Blackwater security firm after discovering -- during a break in a congressional hearing -- that his brother was connected with the company.

Howard Krongard, who began a hearing of Rep. Henry Waxman's government oversight committee by denying the "ugly rumors" that his brother "Buzzy" was linked to Blackwater, returned after a recess to say he had just contacted his brother and learned he had attended a Blackwater advisory board meeting.

"I had not been aware of that. And I want to state on the record right now that I hereby recuse myself from any matters having to do with Blackwater," Krongard, who acts as an independent internal investigator for the State Department, told the panel.

Waxman's committee is examining allegations by current and former officials in Krongard's office that he thwarted probes into waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq, including alleged arms smuggling by Blackwater, which protects U.S. diplomats and other State Department officials in Iraq.

[seemslikeadream]

1. House Oversight & Gov't Reform Cmte. Hearing on the State Dept. Inspector General

http://www.cspan.org/videoarchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,&ArchiveDays=100

House Oversight & Gov't Reform Cmte. Hearing on the State Dept. Inspector General
Howard Krongard, the State Dept.'s Inspector General, answers allegations against him during a House Oversight & Gov't Reform Cmte. hearing. Current & former employees claimed that the IG interfered with investigations into contracting fraud in Iraq & Afghanistan. Krongard was confirmed by the Senate in May 2005.
11/14/2007: WASHINGTON, DC: 2 hr. 38 min.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. thanks for the link.

I worry about Waxman. Too much work, sooooo little time, not enough staff, and they haven't even scratched the surface.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. this is way past messed up. this is conspiracy time, without the tin foil.

not even aluminium, platinum or gold foil. This is pure criminal activity.