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FBI Raids Office of Special Counsel

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

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A raid by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on a federal agency is unusual and usually associated with criminal activity by members of organized crime rather than on political appointees or civil servants.

So an FBI raid on the Office of Special Counsel in Washington, DC is unusual. Agents are reportedly seizing computers and documents belonging to the Special Counsel, Scott Bloch, and his staff according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Agents are also searching Scott Bloch's private residence in Virginia. The official biographical sketch of Scott Bloch is here.

Office employees told reporters that the FBI searches are apparently focusing on alleged obstruction of justice by the Special Counsel during the course of an 2006 inquiry into his conduct in office.

Many readers are familiar with the Office of Special Counsel as the office investigates and prosecutes allegations concerning violations of the Hatch Act which restricts political activity for federal employees. Of more national political import, Bloch's staff was looking into whether he or other White House officials improperly used federal agencies to help re-elect Republicans in 2006.

Bloch has also been under investigation since 2005. The Office of Personnel Management's inspector general has been investigating claims that the Special Counsel abused his authority and retaliated against employees or improperly dismissed whistleblower cases.

The Journal reported some time ago that the agency bypassed its own technicians and called in a private service to erase data from agency computers. Mr. Bloch said at the time that the purpose was to rid the computers of a virus and not to delete records relating to the investigation of his office. The erasures may also be part of the reason behind the FBI raid.

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Readers' Comments

  • The voters send the same people back to federal office every two and six years. A majority would appear to be happy with the situation. What is the problem?...
    Posted: June 2, 2008 8:34 PM
  • This is a political shell game. No one blamed for the breaches in law are held accountable. Agencies created to protect our laws don't. Noticed that investigations are done w/ no result? People are getting paid big $ to do nothing. There's no recourse in govmnt. now. The constitution is being ignore...
    Posted: June 2, 2008 10:38 AM
  • If the oil companies & VP Cheney getting cozy bothers you?? Think about them cozying up with the likes of middle eastern leaders & oil executives, in a very deferential & subservient way. All meant to keep the oil flowing. The influence of foreign interest/money/oil politics in our country &, in ...
    Posted: May 8, 2008 2:49 PM

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