Staff members at an agency that oversees offshore drilling accepted tickets to sports events, lunches and other gifts from oil and gas companies and used government computers to view pornography, according to an Interior Department report alleging a culture of cronyism between regulators and the industry.
In at least one case, an inspector for the Minerals Management Service admitted using crystal methamphetamine and said he might have been under the influence of the drug the next day at work, according to the report by the acting inspector general of the Interior Department.
The report cites a variety of violations of federal regulations and ethics rules at the agency's Louisiana office. Previous inspector general investigations have focused on inappropriate behavior by the royalty-collection staff in the agency's Denver office.
The report adds to the climate of frustration and criticism facing the Obama administration in the monthlong oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, although it covers actions before the spill. Millions of gallons of oil are gushing into the Gulf, endangering wildlife and the livelihoods of fishermen, as scrutiny intensifies on a lax regulatory climate.
The report began as a routine investigation, the acting inspector general, Mary Kendall, said in a cover letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, whose department includes the agency.
"Unfortunately, given the events of April 20 of this year, this report had become anything but routine, and I feel compelled to release it now," she wrote.
Well, the porn is frankly to be expected. The staff are a bunch of humans in need of impulse control. The meth ? Well that is a different matter.
Tragicomedy of hysterical hypocrisy. I'm sure we will be told the people involved were hired by Bush or 'Brownie' or something. Obama is unable to accept that the US govt can't do a damned thing.
Besides he has a nascent war in Korea we can't support to think over. Sure you don't want those other 564 F-22's now, Gates you moron?
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Just watched that 60 Minutes interview with rig explosion survivor Mike Williams. This was the Challenger all over again. A set up for disaster that nobody wanted to see.
According to that paragon of integrity Chris Dodd it was Bush's fault
They are like 8 year old runts, never picked for the ball game, finally in charge and trying to act like it.
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