13 Bush Officials-Engaged In-Sex+Gifts+Drugs-With Employees Of Energy Companies They Regulated-Wapo

[kpete]

When critics talk about regulatory officials being in bed with those they regulate, the phrase is typically used metaphorically. At the Department of the Interior, however, it should be taken literally.

WP: A Department of Interior IG report that people may actually read: " Government officials handling billions of dollars in oil royalties engaged in illicit sex with employees of energy companies they were dealing with and received numerous gifts from them, federal investigators said Wednesday. The alleged transgressions involve 13 Interior Department employees in Denver and Washington. Their alleged improprieties include rigging contracts, working part-time as private oil consultants, and having sexual relationships with _ and accepting golf and ski trips and dinners from _ oil company employees, according to three reports released Wednesday by the Interior Department's inspector general. The investigations reveal a 'culture of substance abuse and promiscuity' by a small group of individuals 'wholly lacking in acceptance of or adherence to government ethical standards,' wrote Inspector General Earl E. Devaney.

Devaney said the former head of the Denver Royalty-in-Kind office, Gregory W. Smith, used illegal drugs and had sex with subordinates. The report said Smith also steered government contracts to a consulting business that was employing him part-time."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/10/AR2008091001829.html?hpid=moreheadlines

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5993877.html
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/9/10/16641/4848

[Jack Rabbit]

1. If the Bush Regime is in bed with the oil companies

. . . we're the ones who get fucked.

[Mabus]

12. You think you've got it bad?

The DOI manages Indian Affairs, imagine how many tribes have gotten screwed - again.

[Thothmes]

15. Not again, you mean still. DOI handling of the affairs

for the Native Americans has an abysmal record that goes back for over 100 years and encompasses every administration, whether Dem or Repub.

[Mabus]

16. It has been continuous

fwiw, I'm an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe. My mom got involved with tribal and Democratic politics when I was a kid and she was elected (more than once) tribal chair and to the tribal council. I grew up knowing people from AIM and ended up having the Bellecort Boys, Russell Means, Dennis Banks and others at my house for the pre-protest planning dinner when the Redskins played the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Columbus Day weekend in 1992. They were in town (Lawrence, KS) for a panel I helped put together at Haskell Indian Juco and KU for Columbus Day, 1992.

[yellowcanine]

2. "in bed with" doesn't usually mean literally in bed with. Until now.

[jberryhill]

3. That's just disgusting /nt

[formercia]

4. It's all about lack of Leadership.

Bush Gang sets the bar.

[Hubert Flottz]

5. Laws are for democrats.

[MissWaverly]

6. you go with the government you have not the one you deserve

to paraphrase Rumsfeld, former Secretary of Defense, unless you can vote them out. Though I do think that is carrying
cronyism to a whole new level which I hope ends with the end of the error on 1/20/09.

[Divine Discontent]

7. can we impeach yet???

sheesh.... filthy dirtbag criminals.


MORE AT www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[elehhhhna]

8. Abramhoff ran Interior for awhile, remember?

[bertman]

9. I simply cannot believe that an upstanding Republican Christian would do something like that.

If Elliot Spitzer had been dealin with oil companies he wouldn't have had to hire that hooker. He coulda got it for free. Damn.

[spanone]

10. they were screwing them while they were screwing us

[HVAC600]

11. Any pics?

[countryjake]

13. Why no criminal charges? Why is this being framed around "ethics"?

From the Washington Post article:

"Many of those identified told investigators that they didn't think ethics rules applied to them because of their "unique" role in the agency and that they needed to socialize with industry representatives for "market intelligence." Those identified have been recommended for internal administrative action."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/10/AR2008091001829.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[pleah]

14. K&R n/t