Gerald Walpin

Gerald Walpin was an American attorney and federal official who served as the Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service. Appointed by President George W. Bush, his tenure was marked by a high-profile investigation into the misuse of federal grants by a nonprofit organization, which led to a significant political controversy and his eventual dismissal by the Obama administration. His career spanned decades in private legal practice, academia, and public service, culminating in a contentious chapter that sparked debates over the independence of inspectors general within the United States federal government.

Early life and education

He was born in New York City and pursued his undergraduate studies at Yeshiva University, where he graduated with honors. He then attended Harvard Law School, earning his Juris Doctor degree. During his time at Harvard, he was an editor for the Harvard Law Review, demonstrating early academic prowess in the field of jurisprudence.

Legal and academic career

Following his graduation, he clerked for Judge Irving R. Kaufman of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He then embarked on a long career in private practice, becoming a partner at the prominent New York law firm Rosenman & Colin. His legal expertise focused on corporate law and securities litigation, representing clients in complex cases before the Securities and Exchange Commission. Concurrently, he served as an adjunct professor of law at his alma mater, Yeshiva University's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, teaching courses on legal ethics and professional responsibility.

Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service

In 2007, he was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as the first statutory Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps and other national service programs. In this role, he was responsible for auditing and investigating the agency's programs to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. His office conducted several audits that identified millions of dollars in questioned costs. His most notable investigation involved St. HOPE Academy, a nonprofit in Sacramento, California founded by former NBA star and then-mayor Kevin Johnson. The investigation concluded that the organization had misused hundreds of thousands of dollars in AmeriCorps grants.

Controversy and dismissal

The findings regarding St. HOPE Academy were referred to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California, and the case was settled in 2009. However, his aggressive pursuit of the case and his public statements led to conflicts with the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service and the White House. In June 2009, he was abruptly removed from his position by the Obama administration. The dismissal, communicated by the White House Counsel's office, sparked immediate bipartisan concern in Congress, particularly from Senators Charles Grassley and Susan Collins, who questioned whether it was an improper political interference with the independence of an Inspector General. He testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, alleging his removal was retaliation for his investigations.

Later career and death

After his dismissal, he returned to private legal practice and continued to write and speak on issues related to government accountability and the role of inspectors general. He remained a critic of the circumstances surrounding his removal, which continued to be cited in debates over the Inspector General Act of 1978. He passed away in 2021 in New York City. The controversy over his firing remains a notable case study in the tensions between investigative independence and executive branch authority within the federal government of the United States.

Category:American lawyers Category:Inspectors General of the United States Category:Harvard Law School alumni