The Inspector General of the U.S. Commerce Department remains in the target zone of Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas as well as a Ranking Democrat on the House Committee chaired by Lucas.
California Rep. Zoe Lofgren joined Lucas this week in sending another letter of demand to Peggy Gustafson, asking for documents focusing on their investigation of claims she engaged in whistleblower retaliation and misconduct.
“Retaliatory behavior from within offices of inspectors general against their own staff fundamentally undermine the purpose of the OIG and will not be tolerated,” the lawmakers wrote in April when they opened the investigation.
They noted the vital role IGs play as watchdogs at federal agencies and the fact that, with billions of dollars of new funding at Commerce to implement the CHIPS and Science Act, it has never been more important for the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to operate with integrity.
In the letter, the lawmakers requested that Inspector General Peggy Gustafson produce a tranche of documents related to relevant personnel decisions by June 16, 2023.
A redacted copy of the letter is available here. However, much of the letter is redacted to protect the identity of individuals who might have been the target of whistleblower retaliation.
Source: Lucas press release