We applaud the belated White House decision to finally remove the disastrous Special Counsel Scott Bloch from office.  Government Accountability Project:  “We look forward to the appointment of a Special Counsel who will prioritize protecting whistleblowers from retaliation over pursuing personal political agendas.”

From the GAP press release:

October 24, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Special Counsel Bloch Forced Out
White House Removes Long-Controversial Head of OSC

(Washington, D.C.) – The Government Accountability Project (GAP) applauded the White House decision to remove Special Counsel Scott Bloch yesterday.

“It’s about time,” stated GAP Legislative Representative Adam Miles. “The number of federal employees helped by OSC has plummeted during Mr. Bloch’s tenure, along with the office’s credibility. It’s time to move on from this unfortunate chapter in OSC’s history. We look forward to the appointment of a Special Counsel who will prioritize protecting whistleblowers from retaliation over pursuing personal political agendas.”

Added GAP Legal Director Tom Devine: “Mr. Bloch had the same impact as Special Counsel that President Bush has had as President – utter disaster.”

GAP has been a persistent critic of Bloch during his tenure at the Office of Special Counsel. To read GAP’s detailed testimony on this issue from a July 12, 2007 oversight hearing on the office, click here.

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Government Accountability Project

The Government Accountability Project is the nation’s leading whistleblower protection organization. Through litigating whistleblower cases, publicizing concerns and developing legal reforms, GAP’s mission is to protect the public interest by promoting government and corporate accountability. Founded in 1977, GAP is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.

From the Washington Post October 24:

Special Counsel Bloch Resigns Under Pressure

Office of Special Counsel chief Scott J. Bloch resigned under pressure after meeting with White House officials yesterday, five months after the FBI raided his home and his government office as part of an ongoing obstruction of justice probe….

The OSC is supposed to be a haven for federal whistleblowers and disgruntled employees. But the tables turned under Bloch, who previously worked at the Justice Department’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

Bloch came under fire shortly after joining the whistleblower unit in 2004. Employees claimed that he engaged in political bias and improperly handled scores of cases….

The U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia, the FBI and the inspector general at the Office of Personnel Management are examining Bloch’s use of a contract company to scrub his computer hard drive, even as the inspector general investigated his treatment of employees and whistleblowers….