Chairman Connolly Calls on Integrity Committee To Publicly Confirm An Investigation Into Inspector General Cuffari

Washington, D.C. (August 17, 2022)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, sent a letter to the Integrity Committee for the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) calling on the Committee to publicly confirm it is investigating Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) Joseph V. Cuffari following reports about potentially unethical behavior with regards to the January 6th investigation and his time as Department of Justice (DOJ) IG. Recent reporting suggests that Mr. Cuffari has sought "partisan allies to defend" him from a CIGIE investigation and has refused to cooperate with investigators further highlights the need for the Integrity Committee to take steps to preserve its integrity and independence.

"Given the very public reporting of these serious allegations, the IC must take steps to preserve its integrity and independence by publicly confirming whether it is investigating Mr. Cuffari and the swirl of serious allegations surrounding him," Chairman Connolly wrote.

According to press reporting, Mr. Cuffari is currently under investigation by the Integrity Committee for allegations of retaliation. This information, combined with the recent report regarding Mr. Cuffari's refusal to cooperate with the investigation, warrant a public response from the Integrity Committee. The absence of any public statement creates the appearance that the entity that serves as a watchdog for the watchdogs is absent from an investigation into an allegation of wrongdoing with massive national implications.

In his letter, Chairman Connolly requested that the Integrity Committee confirm whether it is investigating Mr. Cuffari, and provide details about any such investigation as well as an assessment of Mr. Cuffari's cooperation with that investigation. He also requested an assessment of the Integrity Committee's resources to conduct an investigation of this scale and an updated policy on when it will make investigations into allegations of wrongdoing made against an IG public.

Click here to read the letter.

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