Abramoff scandal still reverberates in Washington
Nearly three years after lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and fraud, the scandal is still playing out on Capitol Hill.
Thursday, former congressional staffer Trevor L. Blackann pleaded guilty to charges he failed to report gifts he received from lobbyists on this tax returns.
Among the more than $4,000 in gifts received was a trip to New York City for the opening game of the 2003 World Series. Blackann admitted to knowing the trip was paid for by lobbyists. The court documents do not identify the lobbyists in question, but the Department of Justice issued a release calling the case part of the investigation into the lobbying activities of Abramoff. Blackann also did not report the trip to Congress.
One of the trips Blackann did disclose in his time as a congressional aide was paid for by the Dairy Farmers of America. According to filings reported to the House of Representatives, Blackann later worked as a lobbyist for the Dairy Farmers of America in 2007.
Top congressional aides are required to file personal financial disclosures that list gifts and other matters that might reveal conflicts of interest. But Blackann was not required to file a financial disclosure because his salary did not meet the minimum threshold. Instead, prosecutors focused on his tax filings, which did not disclose the gifts as income.
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The Social Security Administration, Inspector General, Patrick P. O'Carroll, Jr., on Thursday, November 13, 2008, completed a fleecing of the American taxpayers with the completion of an unnecessary $67,000 Managers' Conference meeting that was held in San Diego, CA from November 10-12, 2008. All of OIG's Office of Investigations Senior Managers from SES to GS-15s were ordered by O'Carroll to attend the meeting, including the Deputy Inspector General, James A. Kissko -- which numbered close to 30 senior officials from each of the 10 OIG Regional Field Divisions and headquarters.
The senior officials stayed at the luxury W Hotel, Category 5 rated, in downtown San Diego located at 421 W B St San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 398-3092. The per diem rate for the San Diego area is between $210-$203 a day, which includes meals and hotel. The total per diem charged to Taxpayers for each OIG senior managers was $267 per person, which does not include car rentals, mileage and airline tickets. Don't forget the renting of the meeting rooms, and snacks which includes hefty hotel service charges -- all totaled to $67,000.
IG O'Carroll justified the trip as a TRAINING CONFERENCE in conjunction with the November 8-12, 2008 International Chiefs of Police Annual Convention, which was held in San Diego. The majority of the Senior Managers in the field argued that there was no need for convening such a conference when all of the Federal agencies are under a Continuing Resolution, and particularly when these managers can't get their people into critical training because the IG says we don't have enough money to go around.
The trip was totally unnecessary and a waste of taxpayers money. Also, why would you schedule a manager's conference in the middle of a Federal holiday, Veterans Day (11/11)?
IG O'Carroll is under investigation by the Presidential Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE), Integrity Committee Chairman, Kenneth Kaiser. How do I know this? I was the one who submitted a package to the United States Attorney General for the Maryland District and Senator Charles Grassley, outlining a pattern of corruption and malfeasance committed by Mr. O'Carroll, and the former IG, James G. Huse, Jr. Mr. O'Carroll is expected to submit his resignation by the end of December 2008, according to sources in SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue's office.
PLEASE SEE THE OUTLINE BELOW OF THE DOCUMENT I SENT TO THE PARTIES MENTIONED. If you are interested in having EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to this information, I would be more than happy to have a conference call with you to discuss further.
DANNY R. JOHNSON /Senior Public Affairs Specialist SSA-OIG/Office of Investigations
Baltimore, MD 21235
(410) 966-7261 - office phone
(301) 535-8832 - cell phone
djoh1226@comcast.net private email
From: djoh1226@comcast.net
To: Mary.Conway2@ic.fbi.gov
Cc: Emilia_DiSanto@finance-rep.senate.gov
Subject: Re: CONFIDENTIAL: PCIE Integrity Committee's SSA OIG Inquiry
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:13:43 +0000
Ms. Conway,
Thank you responding to my request for the PCIE Integrity Committee's mailing address. Please note that I FEDEX an overnight priority package on April 21 and you should receive it by 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 22. The FEDEX confirmation/tracking number is 865338814227. I have also "cc" U.S. Senator Charles Grassley and the U.S. Attorney for the Maryland District as a courtesy since they were so helpful to me and have more of an interest in this investigation as anyone. U.S. Senator Ben Cardin was notified under separate cover.
The package contains disturbing documentation of illegal and unethical activities being committed by the SSA OIG. The acts have been occurring for years without the Inspector General or any of his senior management officials being held accountable for their actions. The document is divided into sections A-J in the following order/subject matter:
Section A
Copy of the 12/31/2007 ‘John Doe’ Email Sent to Danny Johnson from a former SSA OIG Employee. The ‘John Doe’ Email went to the Washington Post, SSA Commissioner and Key Staffers, and the House Oversight Committee.
Section B
Copy of the Original 04/02/2007 and 04/18/2007 Documents Danny Johnson sent to USAO for Maryland District.
Section C
Copies of 01/08 and 01/09/2008 Faxes Sent to USAO Maryland District Detailing SSA OIG Officials Harassment/Intimidation of Danny Johnson.
Section D
Copy of Email from Danny Johnson to His Attorney, Mr. Robert P. Waldeck, and USAO Public Affairs Specialist, Ms. Marcia Murphy, Regarding SSA OIG Harassment and Intimidation.
Section E
Copy of 10/18/2007 Letter from Danny Johnson to OSC Investigations and Prosecution Division Outlining Evidence of Witness Tampering by SSA IG Patrick P. O’Carroll, Jr. and Senior OIG Officials.
Section F
Copy of Email from former SSA OIG Information Technology Specialist, Mr. Rich Ackerman, who was Forced to Retire Because of Persistent Harassment and Intimidation from Senior OIG Officials. Mr. Ackerman outlines how $500,000 of taxpayers’ dollars was wasted without any accountability or oversight.
Section G
Copy of 04/12/2007 Letter from SSA FOIA Officer Responding to former SSA OIG Special Agent, Mr. David Bruce’s 02/06/2007 FOIA Request.
The purpose of this letter is to show how SSA has to depend on SSA OIG FOIA Officer, Mr. Jonathan Lasher, for language involving OIG files. Mr. Lasher’s position is to ensure that no outside inquiries into OIG alleged malfeasance becomes public.
Section H
Copy of 04/19/2007 Letter from Danny Johnson to Honorable Speaker of the House, Steny Hoyer.
Section I
Warning: Extremely Graphic Pictures
Copies of Emails containing Soft Pornographic and Racially Insensitive Pictures and Images sent by SSA OIG Quality Assurance and Professional Responsibility Special Agent in Charge, Mr. James Skip Lacey.
Section J
Signed Copy of former SSA OIG Special Agent, Mr. David Bruce’s, 01/14/2008 Letter to U.S. Senator Charles Grassley and U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin -- Granting SSA OIG Public Affairs Specialist, Mr. Danny Johnson, and Mr. Bruce’s former Attorney, Mr. Robert P. Waldeck, the Privilege to Freely Discuss his OSC and MSPB Case on his Behalf.
Please feel free to contact if there is a need for clarifications. I will be on leave status beginning Friday, April 25 through Friday, May 2. However, I will be checking my private emails and office phone calls on a daily basic. Feel free to contact me at any of the sources below. Thank you for your time and consideration investigating this matter.
DANNY R. JOHNSON
(410) 966-7261 - office phone
(301) 535-8832 - cell phone
djoh1226@comcast.net private email
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