June 26, 2009

Catherine McKenna Ribeiro (Tierney): (202) 225-8020 Cell: (202) 641-1387

NATIONAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE

Chairman Tierney Reignites Investigation of the Retired Military Analyst Program

WASHINGTON, DC -– Congressman Tierney made the following statement in regard to the announcement by the Office of the Inspector General’s to commit the additional investigative resources necessary to release a new version of the Congressionally-mandated report on the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs Outreach Program.

“Since the Office of the Inspector General’s withdrawal in May of its report on the Public Affairs Outreach Program to Retired Military Analysts, I have been in touch with that Office to gain an understanding of why the report was withdrawn and why the Office made the determination not to reissue the report. This decision was particularly troubling in light of the requirement in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY09 that the Inspector General issue this report. I believe it is important to understand exactly what took place in the Department of Defense with regard to this program. Last week, Representative Hodes and I had a very constructive meeting with Acting Inspector General Gordon Heddell about the withdrawal of the report. On Tuesday, I received a letter from Mr. Heddell to inform me that he intends to do the necessary investigations and reissue the report on the Public Affairs Outreach Program.

“I commend Acting Inspector General Heddell’s decision to investigate the Public Affairs Outreach Program and to issue the report required by the National Defense Authorization Act for FY09. This is an important step, both to bring the Inspector General’s office into compliance with the requirements set by Congress and to provide the American people with a full accounting of the Public Affairs Outreach Program. A complete investigation of this program will allow us to determine whether appropriated funds were used in violation of the ban on propaganda that Congress has enacted to protect taxpayers. It will also help the Department of Defense to ensure that it does not operate programs that will be open to these types of allegations in the future.

“The decision to reinvestigate and reissue the Public Affairs Outreach Program report reflects positively on the leadership within the Inspector General’s office and suggests that Acting Inspector General Heddell will perform his job with integrity and diligence.

“I also want to thank my colleague and Subcommittee member, Representative Hodes, for his continued work on this important matter.”

A copy of Chairman Tierney’s letter to Acting Inspector General Heddell on this matter is below:

June 25, 2009

The Honorable Gordon S. Heddell
Acting Inspector General
U.S. Department of Defense
400 Army Navy Drive
Arlington, VA 22202

Dear Mr. Heddell:

Thank you for your letter announcing your intent to commit the additional investigative resources necessary to release a new version of the Congressionally-mandated report on the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs Outreach Program. I appreciate your prompt follow-up to our meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2009.

This is an important step to bringing your office into compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2009 (NDAA) and to uncovering whether taxpayer money was misappropriated by the Office of Public Affairs. It is also a necessary predicate to the legal analysis tasked to the U.S. Government Accountability Office under the NDAA.

I am encouraged to see, as well, that you plan to interview former senior officials as well as all 70 of the retired military analysts (RMAs) who were reportedly given special access to DOD information. I am glad to hear that you will take me up on the invitation to let my Subcommittee staff know if you have any difficulty in getting any of the RMAs or former officials to agree to an interview.

I appreciate your attention to this important matter. As requested in your letter, I would like to meet with you again once you have outlined a plan for your investigation to discuss the scope of the renewed inquiry and to ensure that my concerns and those of my colleagues are addressed. I look forward to working with you as your investigation goes forward.

Sincerely,

John F. Tierney
Chairman
Subcommittee on National Security
and Foreign Affairs