These investigations have also undermined or ignored the due process rights to which federal law entitles these individuals.”Īccording to the lawsuit, Cuffari––whose predecessor sped up his plans to retire after the office had to retract 13 flawed reports––was made aware of issues at the office shortly after he was confirmed in July 2019. On Wednesday, CIGIE Executive Director Alan Boehm said the group was “aware of the complaint” and looked forward to working with the Justice Department on the matter.Ī press release from the Alliance says that “the vexatious CIGIE/ investigations into the plaintiffs have had a chilling effect on their work and actions.” Additionally, the “plaintiffs have been forced to spend thousands in attorney fees to defend themselves against baseless charges surrounding their official actions. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleges that for three years Inspector General Joseph Cuffari “has been endlessly harassed and had his office’s resources drained by a series of baseless inquiries headed by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s Integrity Committee,” said the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a nonprofit civil rights group that seeks to reign in unlawful powers from federal and state agencies, which is representing the plaintiffs.ĬIGIE, whose members are IGs, and its Integrity Committee, which reviews allegations made against IGs and top IG staff, were created and authorized by the 2008 Inspector General Reform Act. The embattled Homeland Security watchdog and other officials filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the federal watchdog council, taking aim at what they say are “vexatious” investigations into them and their structure.

Government watch dogs