Johnnie E. Frazier

Johnnie E. Frazier, Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Bush administration, the "watchdog charged with rooting out wrongdoing at the agency, is himself the subject of three separate government investigations into allegations that he misspent his budget and retaliated against employees who raised concerns about his actions," Joe Stephens and John Solomon reported May 2, 2007, for the Washington Post.

"Among the allegations are that he engaged in questionable travel at taxpayer expense, at times over weekends and accompanied by his grandchildren, to cities where the inspector general does not have offices, according to documents and interviews with people close to the inquiries. The investigators are also interested in whether Frazier improperly arranged for a no-bid $150,000 contract to be awarded to a consulting company that the committee's letter alleges was 'connected' to a retiring employee of Frazier's office," Stephens and Solomon wrote.

"A number of senior staff members, including Frazier's deputy, have been reassigned in recent months. At least two have sought whistle-blower protection by alleging that Frazier retaliated against them, and a third has contacted the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging discrimination and retaliation, according to the people interviewed," Stephens and Solomon wrote.

"Documents obtained by The Washington Post show that inquiries are also underway at the Office of Special Counsel, an independent agency that enforces the Whistleblower Protection Act, and at the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency, which reviews complaints against inspectors general," Stephens and Solomon reported.

"Frazier was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1999 after his predecessor, Francis D. DeGeorge, resigned amid controversy. DeGeorge later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge related to job discussions he had with a contractor." [