EPA accused of blocking investigations

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

A unit run by President Barack Obama’s political staff inside the Environmental Protection Agency operates illegally as a “rogue law-enforcement agency” that has blocked independent investigations by the EPA’s inspector general for years, a top investigator told Congress.

Patrick Sullivan, the assistant EPA inspector general for investigations, was expected to testify today before a House oversight committee about the activities of the EPA’s little-known Office of Homeland Security.

The office of about 10 employees is overseen by EPA Administrator Gina McCar-thy’s office, and the inspector general’s office is accusing it of impeding its independent investigations into employee misconduct, computer security and external threats, including compelling employees involved in cases to sign nondisclosure agreements.