Justice Dept. Conducting Criminal Probe of Baghdad Embassy Contracts

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Washington Post

By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 16, 2007; Page A28

The Justice Department is conducting a criminal probe into the awarding of the contract and related subcontracts in the troubled construction of the massive $736 million U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, according to sources and congressional testimony this week.

The probe came to light Wednesday during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing into the actions of State Department Inspector General Howard J. Krongard. Though lawmakers appeared careful not to mention names of people under investigation, Krongard mentioned two people during his testimony, both of whom are key figures in the building of the embassy, as he defended his practice of meeting with people under investigation.

"I would like to tell you exactly what I was doing, both with Mr. Golden and Ms. French," Krongard told lawmakers.

James L. Golden is a Washington-based contract employee of the State Department who oversees the project, though earlier this year the U.S. ambassador to Iraq barred him from returning to that country after he was suspected of altering evidence after a mortar attack. Mary French is the embassy project coordinator based in Baghdad.

Krongard also said Justice has "three investigations" involving Iraq, apparently referring to previously reported probes into alleged labor trafficking by First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting Co. -- the construction company awarded the embassy contract -- and alleged weapons smuggling by Blackwater Worldwide, which supplies security for the State Department....

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/15/AR2007111502202.html?hpid=sec-world

[Supersedeas]

1. Krongard is likely to be exposed for incompetence and more -- heckuva job, Condi