Gerald Walpin
Gerald Walpin (September 1, 1931 – June 24, 2016) was an American lawyer and author.[1] He served as the Inspector General of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) from January 2007 until June 2009, when he was removed by U.S. President Barack Obama.[1]
Gerald Walpin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Inspector General of the Corporation for National and Community Service | |
| In office January 8, 2007 – July 12, 2009 | |
| President | George W. Bush Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Carol Bates (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Kenneth Bach (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 1, 1931 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | June 24, 2016 (aged 84) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | City University of New York, City College (BA) Yale University (LLB) |
Personal life
Walpin was born September 1, 1931, in New York City,[2] and graduated from the City College of New York in 1952.[3][4] He attended Yale Law School, where he was managing editor of the Yale Law Journal, graduating cum laude in 1955. Walpin was married, with three children and six grandchildren.[3]
Career
From 1957 to 1960, he served in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General, with a rank of lieutenant.[3]
Walpin was an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of Special Prosecutions for the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York for five years, after which he went on to become a senior partner at the New York-based law firm Rosenman & Colin LLP—and then of counsel at its successor Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP—for a combined total of over 40 years.[3]
From 2002 to 2004, Walpin was president of the Federal Bar Council, an association of attorneys that practice in the courts within the Second Circuit. He received the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award in 2003 for outstanding professionalism as an attorney and for mentoring younger lawyers.[3]
Inspector General of CNCS
Appointment by George W. Bush
On August 3, 2006, President George W. Bush nominated Walpin as Inspector General (IG) of Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), an office in the CNCS charged with conducting independent and object audits, investigations and inspections of the CNCS and its service programs, which include AmeriCorps, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) and Senior Corps.[5] After he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 9, 2006, Walpin was sworn in on January 8, 2007.[3][5][6]
Americorps investigations
After its May 20, 2009 meeting that discussed Walpin's report criticizing the St. HOPE Academy settlement agreement and Walpin's forthcoming report questioning the validity of the largest AmeriCorps program—the Research Foundation of City University of New York (RFCUNY) New York City Teaching Fellows program, the bipartisan CNCS Board of Directors unanimously requested that the White House review Walpin's conduct as Inspector General.[7][8]
Removal and lawsuit
Walpin was suspended with pay on June 11, 2009, by President Barack Obama, who on the same day advised the U.S. Congress that he would remove Walpin from office, effective 30 days from then, because Obama no longer had "the fullest confidence in" him as Inspector General.[9][10] and on June 16, 2009, the White House submitted a letter with additional information on the reasons Walpin was removed.[7] However Republicans Chuck Grassley and Darrell Issa have asserted that Walpin's firing was politically motivated due to the fact that Walpin was investigating Kevin Johnson, a friend and supporter of Barack Obama, for sexual assault and other allegations during the time he was fired by Obama.[11]
On July 17, 2009, Walpin filed a civil lawsuit in federal court seeking his reinstatement, arguing that his removal violated the 2008 Inspector General Act.[12] On July 20, 2009, Walpin issued a statement saying the primary reason for his lawsuit was to protect future Inspectors General.[13]
On October 19, 2009, the chairman of the Integrity Committee of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) notified Walpin that his May 20, 2009, response to an April 29, 2009 complaint about him by acting U.S. Attorney Lawrence G. Brown had sufficiently and satisfactorily addressed the matter and closed the complaint.[14]
On June 17, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Richard W. Roberts dismissed Walpin's suit.[15]
Death
Gerald Walpin died on June 24, 2016, in a hospital after being hit by the driver of a sport utility vehicle in Manhattan while crossing at Lexington Avenue and East 79th Street.[1]
References
- Rosenberg, Eli (June 26, 2016). "Gerald Walpin, Watchdog Fired Over AmeriCorps Inquiry, Dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
- Martindale Hubbell Law Directory 1999: District of Columbia, U.S. Government Lawyers, State Bar Association Profiles, Law Schools, Volume 5. New Providence, NJ: Martindale-Hubbell. 1998. ISBN 978-1-56160-324-4 – via Google Books.
- "Meet Inspector General Gerald Walpin" (PDF). Inspector General of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 6, 2009.
- "Chosen at City College to head student council". The New York Times. May 16, 1951. p. 30. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
- "Presidential Nomination PN1904-109 Gerald Walpin". THOMAS. December 9, 2006. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
- "Inspector General historical data - Federal departments" (PDF). IGnet.gov. May 17, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 13, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
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- Dann, Carrie (June 17, 2009). "Ousted IG cited for behavior, absences from Washington". CongressDaily AM. Government Executive. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- Eisen, Norman L. (June 16, 2009). "Letter to Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman and Sen. Susan M. Collins, cc: Sen. Claire McCaskill" (PDF). National Journal. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
- CNCS (2009). "Board of Directors". CNCS. Archived from the original on July 1, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- Solomont, Alan D.; Goldsmith, Stephen; Im, Hyepin; Palmer, James; Soloway, Stan; Tanenblatt, Eric J.; Ward, Laysha (June 17, 2009). "Letter to Sen. Charles E. Grassley" (PDF). The Washington Post. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
- Cummings, Julie Fisher (June 22, 2009). "Letter to Sen. Charles E. Grassley" (PDF). The Washington Post. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
- Gearan, Mark D. (June 26, 2009). "Letter to Sen. Charles E. Grassley" (PDF). The Washington Post. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
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- Brown, Lawrence G. (April 9, 2009). "United States settles claims arising out of St. HOPE Academy's spending of AmeriCorps grants and education awards" (PDF). U.S. Department of Justice. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 27, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- Walpin, Gerald; et al. (May 6, 2009). "OIG issues special report criticizing settlement of Corporation claims against St. HOPE Academy, Kevin Johnson, and Dana Gonzalez". CNCS OIG. Archived from the original on July 1, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- Goren, Nicola; et al. (June 18, 2009). "CNCS supplemental response to OIG special report criticizing St. Hope Academy settlement agreement" (PDF). CNCS OIG. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 1, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- Walpin, Gerald; et al. (June 4, 2009). "Office of Inspector General questions validity of AmeriCorps program at City University of New York". CNCS OIG. Archived from the original on July 1, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
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- Tapper, Jake (June 12, 2009). "President Obama fires controversial Inspector General". ABC News. Archived from the original on June 16, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- Obama, Barack (June 11, 2009). "Letter to the Speaker of the U.S. House" (PDF). ABC News. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
- Obama, Barack (June 11, 2009). "Letter to the President of the U.S. Senate" (PDF). ABC News. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
- Craig, Gregory B. (June 11, 2009). "Letter to Sen. Charles E. Grassley" (PDF). ABC News. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
- Tapper, Jake (June 13, 2009). "More details emerge In President Obama's firing of Inspector General". ABC News. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
- Brown, Lawrence G. (April 29, 2009). "Letter to Kenneth W. Kaiser, Chair, Counsel of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Integrity Committee" (PDF). ABC News. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
- Walpin, Gerald; et al. (May 20, 2009). "Response of IG Gerald Walpin and the OIG to the complaint" (PDF). ABC News. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
- U.S. Congress (December 5, 2008). "U.S.C. Title 5 Appendix - Inspector General Act of 1978 (Incorporating Inspector General Reform Act of 2008, Pub. L. 110-409)" (PDF). USAID. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 28, 2009. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
- "Republicans criticize dismissal of AmeriCorps watchdog". Los Angeles Times. November 20, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
- O'Keefe, Ed (July 20, 2009). "Fired IG Gerald Walpin Files Suit". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- Tapper, Jake (July 20, 2009). "Fired Inspector General says his lawsuit was filed to protect future IGs". ABC News. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
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- Gerstein, Josh (November 10, 2009). "Ousted IG cleared in Kevin Johnson flap". Politico. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- Gerstein, Josh (November 10, 2009). "W.H. v. Grassley on Walpin clearing". Politico. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- Perkins, Kevin L. (October 19, 2009). "Letter to Gerald P. Walpin re: Integrity Committee complaint 614". Politico. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
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- Gerstein, Josh (June 18, 2010). "Former watchdog Walpin loses suit over firing". Politico. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- O'Keefe, Ed (June 18, 2010). "Fired IG ponders options after wrongful-termination suit dismissed". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- Roberts, Richard W. (June 17, 2010). "Memorandum opinion: Gerald Walpin v. Corporation for National and Community Service, et al. Civil Action No. 09-1343". U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Retrieved June 19, 2010.