IG Finds BLM Employees Had Improper Ties To Greens

The US Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General found that a pair of officials may have had improper dealings with environmental groups, according to a new report. Two people working for the Bureau of Land Management on the agency’s National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) improperly shared budget information before it was finalised and worked on a fact sheet about hunting and fishing for The National Wildlife Federation, a US environmental group. “Our investigative efforts revealed that communication between NLCS and a few specific NGOs in these circumstances gave the appearance of federal employees being less than objective and created the potential for conflicts of interest or violations of law,” the report states. “We also uncovered a general disregard for establishing and maintaining boundaries among the various entities.” The investigation by the Inspector General focused on Elena Daly, director of NLCS and community programs, and Jeff Jarvis, NLCS division chief. Several US lawmakers have called for further investigation...read more

The report states:

We presented our findings to the U.S. Attorney's Office who told us that 18 U.S.C. § 1913, "Lobbying with Appropriated Monies," has no criminal sanctions associated with the it, and thus, declined to prosecute in lieu of administrative action. We are providing this information to you for whatever administrative action you deem appropriate. Please send a written response to this office within 90 days advising us of the results of your review and actions taken.

This occurred under Bush. You can just imagine what's going on now. Go here to read the report.