THE FRIDAY BUZZ

Investigating The Investigators' Investigations

Fri. May 9, 2008


As second-tier Bush administration officials head for the exits amid a dizzying series of dueling investigations, somewhere in Washington, surely, someone just subpoenaed Kevin Bacon. Here is how the "Six Degrees of Separation" goes: Former General Services Administration Chief Lurita Doan, fired last week by the White House, was investigated last year by Special Counsel Scott Bloch. Bloch's office says it is investigating the Justice Department over aspects of the U.S. Attorney firing scandal, but the Justice Department, via the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, is now investigating Bloch, whose house and office were raided Tuesday the FBI.

Two Bloch deputies used to work for Stuart Bowen, the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, who is also under investigation by a U.S. Attorney, this one in Virginia. Bowen, who investigates various issues in Iraq, was also briefly investigated by House Oversight and Government Reform ranking member Tom Davis, who often sits next to Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman. Although Rush Limbaugh has urged it, no one is investigating Waxman. But Waxman investigates almost everyone, including the White House, Doan, and, in a limited way, Bloch. Bloch is also being investigated by employees of Office of Personnel Management Inspector General Patrick McFarland. McFarland isn't under investigation, but an ex-subordinate who often comments on news stories that mention the OPM IG wants someone to change that. Isn't Lurita Doan available?

by Dan Friedman