Balance of Power

In the letter to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., and ranking Republican Susan Collins of Maine, White House special counsel Norman L. Eisen said the corporation board had asked for a review of Walpin’s conduct after a May meeting in which he was “confused, disoriented, unable to answer questions and exhibited other behavior that led the Board to question his capacity to serve.”

In addition, Eisen said a U.S. attorney in California had filed a complaint against Walpin with the council that provides oversight of the inspectors general, accusing Walpin of “failing to disclose exculpatory evidence.”

Walpin has denied the accusations in interviews with several media outlets, and the firing had raised questions about whether the true motivation was Walpin’s investigation into misuse of AmeriCorps funds by Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, an Obama supporter.

McCaskill and others suggested that Obama’s notice to Congress didn’t comply with the requirements of a new law enacted last year that was intended to protect the independence of inspectors general, who are some of Congress’ most important allies in providing oversight of the executive branch.

Now, however, McCaskill says the new explanation puts the administration in compliance with the law, adding that “the reasons given in the most recent White House letter are substantial and the decision to remove Walpin appears well founded.” Lieberman spokeswoman Leslie Phillips said the White House “has communicated a number of concerns with Mr. Walpin’s conduct as Inspector General of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and Senator Lieberman appreciates its efforts to provide appropriate notice and explanation for its actions.”

Collins agreed that the White House was now in compliance with the law, but wasn’t totally satisfied. “To further ensure that this removal was warranted, the Committee has asked the White House to brief the staff in more detail,” she said in a statement. “The Committee has also contacted the Corporation to confirm its position on the White House’s allegations.”

Even less satisfied was Sen. Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Finance Committee, who pays close attention to the work of the inspectors general. He sent Craig a letter tonight asking for answers to several questions his staff claims Eisen refused to answer — such as whether Walpin was ever asked for his side of the story, and why he was reportedly given only an hour to decide whether to resign or be fired.

If it’s only Republicans who still want to dig into the firing, the crisis could blow over easily for the White House. If its story doesn’t hold up, though, there will be more questions about whether the White House was really just trying to get rid of an aggressive watchdog.