Investigation of BLM chief flawed
As reported in the Review-Journal, the Department of Interior’s Office of the Inspector General recently released an investigative report stating that I, as the former director of the Bureau of Land Management, was personally and substantially involved in the pre-sale process for a public land sale in Henderson (“Ex-BLM chief faulted in stadium land deal,” June 2). The report also said that I stood to benefit personally from this sale.
When I read the report, I found it terribly flawed. It is heavy on speculation and void of relevant facts. Unfortunately, the inspector general’s investigative process allows the assigned agent to not only serve as a collector of information but to also serve as prosecutor, judge and jury. There was no opportunity for me or anyone else accused of misconduct to challenge any of the reported findings.
It is important to have an independent review performed by the Department of Justice prior to assuming the guilt of anyone named in an inspector general investigative report. If the U.S. attorney thought I had committed a criminal act or had participated in financial fraud during my time as the BLM director, that office would have aggressively prosecuted this case — and rightly so.
If one actually reads the report, you will find that the investigator reluctantly acknowledged that I had no involvement or communications with any BLM employee who approved this sale. Nor did I have any role in the appraisal which determined the land’s sale price. And, she conceded that 3½ years after my alleged direct involvement, I had not received any compensation from the proponents of this sale or from anyone representing them.
Therefore, I am baffled how any qualified investigator could have reached a conclusion that I was substantially involved in this proposed transaction or that I would have financially benefited.
It is time for the Department of Interior’s inspector general office to conduct an internal review of its own processes and investigative standards which, based upon my experience, are below the investigative standards used by supermarket tabloids.
Bob Abbey
Dundee, Miss.
It’s a crime
Haven’t you wondered why there has been an increase in violent crimes, including murder? Well, it is not the result of under-staffing as the Clark County sheriff recently claimed, nor is it the de-policing mentioned by FBI Director James B. Comey.
On the same day these points were made in the Review-Journal, the paper mentioned a Las Vegas pimp who got life in prison for torturing a teen. Doesn’t it seem dumb to waste our valuable resources putting criminals in jail for such a long time when we turn around and release them due to “overcrowding”?
There have been murderers, rapists and others returned to the streets. Criminals know there is nothing they do that will result in real punishment.
When will lawmakers wake up and reinstate capital punishment in some cases to do away with these violent criminals? A limit on death-penalty appeals should also be enforced.
If criminals realize they will be severely punished, they will commit fewer crimes.
Terry Frazier
Mesquite
