UPDATED BELOW: Today, controversially fired AmeriCorps Inspector General Gerald Walpin filed suit in the United States Court for the District of Columbia demanding his job back. The named defendants n the suit are acting AmeriCorps CEO Nicola Goren, Cheif Human Capital Officer Raymond Limon, and General Counsel Frank Trinity. President Obama fired Mr. Walpin on June 10, without immediate notice to Congress despite a federal law requiring 30 days notice to Congress, plus an explanation of the reasons for termination, in order to dismiss an inspector general.

Shortly before he was fired, Mr. Walpin had filed two reports that were embarrassing to allies of President Obama.

The suit claims that "Mr. Walpin was unlawfully removed and transferred from his position as Inspector General precisely because he had performed his responsibilities in an effective manner, supporting his career staff in their objective findings of wrongdoing, based on their audits and investigations, the truth of which those who sought to remove him did not want published.

"Mr. Walpin's unlawful removal and transfer to administrative leave, and his imminent, unlawfula nd procedurally-defective termination, are clearly contrary to the statutory command of the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008, and constittue violations of law .... Mr. Walpin has suffered and continues to suffer very real reputaitona,l vocational and economic injuries as a result [of the firiing], from the obvious loss of his post and the associated income and health insurance, to having his mental faculties questioned with not-so-subtle, and completely unfounded, suggestions of senility."

On the latter point, a footnote in the complaint reads that "without the relief sought by this complaint the conduct at issue raises serious questions of age discirmination, retaliation against whistleblowers and defamation."

(A Washington Times editorial first raised the issue of age discrimination, by the way, before it appeared anywhere else.)

More coming.....

• 
• Comment