DHSObama chooses John Roth for DHS IG
The DHS Inspector General post has been vacant since early 2011, when Richard Skinner retired. Lawmakers say they welcome President Obama’s nomination of John Roth for the position. Roth has held different positions at the Department of Justice, and since last year has served as the head of the Food and Drug Administration’s office of criminal investigations. The inspector general’s office is currently headed by Charles Edwards, who has been under investigation for alleged improprieties, including complaints that he violated anti-nepotism rules by employing his wife as a supervisory auditor and changed audit findings in response to political pressure. Lawmakers have called on him to resign.
The DHS Inspector General post has been vacant since early 2011, when Richard Skinner retired. Lawmakers say they welcome President Obama’s nomination of John Roth for the position. Roth has held different positions at the Justice Department, and since last year has served as the head of the Food and Drug Administration’s office of criminal investigations.
Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said in a statement that the DHS inspector general’s office has lacked a Senate-confirmed head “for far too long.” The job is “especially critical,” given the department’s size and complexity, he added.
In a separate statement, House Homeland Security Committee chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), said that the IG’s work requires “a credible individual who can restore the vital trust of Congress and the American people in the integrity of its audits and investigations.”
Federal Times reports that the inspector general’s office is currently headed by Charles Edwards, a career employee who has been under investigation by a Senate homeland security subcommittee for alleged improprieties, including complaints that he violated anti-nepotism rules by employing his wife as a supervisory auditor and changed audit findings in response to political pressure.
Edwards says he is confident the allegations against him will be proven “completely without merit.”
Two senators — Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) and Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), the chairwoman and top Republican, respectively, on the Senate homeland security subcommittee on financial and contracting oversight — were not persuaded, and earlier this month called on Edwards to resign.
Johnson issues a statement Monday saying that based on input from dozens of IG staff members, “it is apparent the office is not functioning as it should.” “Any future IG must provide leadership that will restore integrity to the office and gains the respect and trust of … employees.”
Roth 25-year career at Justice saw him serve as an assistant U.S. attorney, chief of staff to the deputy attorney general, and special counsel for international money laundering policy.
