#Office for Inspector General

[nationallawreview]

Telehealth Update: DEA/HHS Temporary Rule, Medicare Coverage of Telehealth Services, Potential for Increased Oversight, and What to Watch For in 2025

Telehealth companies and other industry stakeholders have had a watchful eye towards the end of 2024 and the impending “telehealth cliff” as COVID-era Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) flexibilities and Medicare expanded telehealth coverage are set to expire. Although a recent temporary joint rule from the DEA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) along with the 2025 Medicare…

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Thomas Joscelyn and Norman Eisen at The Bulwark:

Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as FBI director, asked that question during a November 25, 2022 episode of his Kash’s Corner podcast for the Epoch Times. It was no slip of the tongue. As the title of that episode suggested—“What Did the FBI Know Before Jan. 6?”—Patel spent considerable time trying to cast the FBI as a villain responsible for January 6th. Patel noted that FBI Director Christopher Wray had “testified that the FBI never instigated or helped the January 6th protesters commit crimes.” But citing a report that the FBI had confidential human sources in the crowd, Patel asserted: “Okay, well, that was in planning for at least a year.” Our review of Patel’s public appearances over the past four years reveals that he has repeatedly insinuated or argued that the FBI used its confidential human sources or employees to instigate the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and entrap Trump’s supporters. Patel has claimed (as in the podcast episode above) that what he calls the “FBI’s Confidential Human Source Corruption Coverup Network” was somehow involved with January 6th. That is not only an insult to the memory of that day; it should be disqualifying for him to helm the bureau.

During the September 30, 2022 episode of Kash’s Corner, for instance, Patel said: “The question that has to be answered is, when did the FBI put those guys in, and where? And did those confidential human sources engage people who are not going to conduct criminal activity and convince them to do so?” Patel claimed that “is the definition of entrapment, which is illegal, and you can’t charge someone who’s been entrapped.” And he wondered who “was running this confidential human source network” and reporting it to FBI Director Chris Wray.

Patel added he would “venture a guess” that “once we see the documentation from January 6th, you will see the FBI’s confidential human source corruption coverup network on blast.” And he accused the FBI of inserting these human sources “into these matters.” Patel asked rhetorically: “Why? Why would you say January 6th? Because they wanted a political target, a political prosecution, not one based on law and fact.” The man who could lead Trump’s FBI has failed to substantiate these wild accusations, which are contradicted by other evidence and by common sense. Regardless, he has frequently advanced this conspiracy theory, using his background as a former federal prosecutor and public defender—key credentials used to buttress his nomination—to provide it with a veneer of credibility. Below, we provide additional examples showing how Patel has elaborated on this conspiracy theory in his public appearances and his book. But first, we explain how Patel’s conspiracy mongering was recently debunked by the Department of Justice’s own inspector general.

A debunked conspiracy theory

Patel is not alone in claiming that the FBI had a hidden hand in the events of January 6th. That conspiracy theory is popular on the right. In December 2024, the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report debunking the conspiratorial claim that the FBI corruptly used its confidential human source network to instigate January 6th. The OIG reports that it “found no evidence . . . that the FBI had undercover employees in the various protest crowds, or at the Capitol, on January 6.” The OIG did find that the FBI tasked three confidential human sources (CHS) with traveling to D.C. “for the events of January 6 to report on domestic terrorism subjects who were possibly attending the event.” And twenty-three other FBI CHSs were in D.C. for January 6th. However, the OIG emphasizes that “none” of these twenty-six CHSs was “authorized to enter the Capitol or a restricted area, or to otherwise break the law on January 6, nor was any CHS directed by the FBI to encourage others to commit illegal acts on January 6.” Simply put, the FBI relied on CHSs to provide information about domestic extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. The leaders of both groups have been convicted of seditious conspiracy for their actions surrounding and on January 6th. These rightwing extremists—especially the Proud Boys—were proven in a court of law to have led the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

[...]

Patel falsely asserted that Ray Epps was “allowed to encourage and incite” the Jan. 6th riot as a “government employee”

As part of the conspiracy theory blaming the FBI for January 6th, the MAGA right has fixated on Ray Epps—baselessly asserting that he worked for the FBI and somehow instigated the attack on the Capitol. As discussed above, Patel and Pool wove Epps into their retelling of the conspiracy theory. Patel has pushed his baseless claims much further in other appearances, falsely stating that Epps was “allowed to encourage and incite a riot around some of the events of January 6th as a government employee”; was on the U.S. Capitol grounds “on behalf of the FBI”; was on the “FBI payroll”; and was part of the FBI’s “corruption coverup network,” involving “the illegal use of confidential human sources.” Patel’s allegations, documented more fully below, are not based in fact. During a January 2022 interview with the House January 6th Committee, Epps himself denied working for the U.S. government in any capacity, saying that “the only time I’ve been involved with the government was when I was a Marine in the United States Marine Corps.” In September 2023, Epps pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct on restricted grounds and was subsequently sentenced to one year of probation. During his plea hearing, a government prosecutor confirmed on the record that Epps “was not before, during, or after” January 6th “a confidential source or undercover agent working on behalf of the government, the FBI, or any law enforcement agency.” Outgoing FBI Director Christopher Wray has directly rebutted the conspiracy theory centered on Epps in congressional testimony as well. Nevertheless, Patel has alleged on multiple occasions—without citing adequate supporting evidence or documentation—that Epps was working for the FBI. And again, Patel used his credentials as a former federal prosecutor to lend the conspiracy theory the appearance of legitimacy. “Look, as a former federal prosecutor who ran sources and informants, if the answer is, ‘This guy is not on our payroll and we don’t know him, and he did absolutely nothing for the United States government,’ you come out hard and fast in your press op and say those things,” Patel said during the January 6, 2023 episode of his Kash’s Corner podcast. “But those things have never been said by this DOJ or FBI about Ray Epps.”

[...]

Conclusion

PATEL PUSHING CONSPIRACY THEORIES about what happened on January 6th should disqualify him from leading the FBI. These allegations deface the truth: the responsibility of Donald Trump, his supporters, and his enablers for what happened that day. That dishonors the memory of the members of law enforcement who were injured or died as a result of what really happened that day and in its long runup. But groundlessly focusing blame on the very agency Patel is supposed to lead is more shocking still. It undermines his ability to win the trust of those who make up the FBI. Given the bureau’s central role in protecting us all, the risk of dysfunction is unacceptable. And what other conspiracy theories will he subscribe to, and who will be targeted as a result? Because of the power of the FBI, that question should concern us all. Patel should be thoroughly examined on all of this at his confirmation hearing. It should be disqualifying.

Potential Donald Trump FBI nominee Kash Patel traffics in the dangerous myth that the FBI “planned” the January 6th Insurrection and the lie that Ray Epps “incited” the insurrection.

Patel is wrong: Trump was the chief instigator, and the OIG debunked Patel’s BS lie. On top of that, this fascist bozo should NOT be leading the agency.

[thefreethoughtprojectcom]

More than three years ago, a small group of government scientists came forward with disturbing allegations. After they pushed back, three of them were removed from their positions in the EPA.

Read More: https://thefreethoughtproject.com/government-corruption/epa-whistleblowers-expose-agencies-efforts-to-approve-harmful-chemicals

#TheFreeThoughtProject

[icewindandboringhorror]

Lineup of all of the characters that appear long enough to need a visual representation of them in the game lol

[georgebanton]

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[demerarawaves]

PNCR/APNU wants to change 2016 PSA, promises oil and gas anti-corruption office to prosecute offenders

The opposition People’s National Congress Reform/A Partnership for National Unity (PNCR/APNU) on Wednesday unveiled plans to ask ExxonMobil to agree to change the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) as well as set up an inspector general’s office (IGO) to go after corruption in the oil and gas sector. “Considering the vastly changed conditions since the signing of the 2016 Stabroek Block PSA…

[dhallblogs]

IPS Arun Mohan Joshi becomes youngest IG of Police in Uttarakhand.

Dehradun: IPS Arun Mohan Joshi has become the youngest Inspector General of Police (IG) in India. The 40-year-old officer, belonging to the 2006 batch, was appointed the IG in a ceremony officiated by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

ALSO READ MORE- https://apacnewsnetwork.com/2024/01/ips-arun-mohan-joshi-becomes-youngest-ig-of-police-in-uttarakhand/

[educationday]

2024/5 GEM Report consultation with UNESCO Institute for Education Planning on system leaders.

The 2024/5 GEM Report will examine the requirements of good leadership in education and how they vary between countries and over time.

The GEM Report and partner UNESCO’s International Institute for Education Planning (IIEP) will convene a consultation examining the role of leaders at the local level (also called middle tier leaders). Acting at the local level as district education officers, inspectors, supervisors and superintendents and within ministries responsible for planning and resource allocations, they can exercise leadership through their commitment to the achievement of national education goals, through their effectiveness in carrying out their responsibilities, to support teachers and principals in their functions and contribute to educational outcomes and the creation of positive learning environments.

The consultation will build off and examine existing studies on middle tier leadership undertaken by IIEP and the Education Development Trust (EDT), including a recent project investigating the evidence and promising practices from around the world, with six national case studies. 

The objectives of the consultation include: 

Share the early thinking of the GEM Report team in preparation for the 2024 GEM Report

Provide a space for participants to provide substantive feedback to the proposed lines of research with a particular focus topics of system leadership at the local level.

Hear from the IIEP and EDT research teams and country partners on their ongoing research studies focused on the role of system leaders to act as catalysts for change in school reforms. 

Leadership and education.

[awesome-gautam-sandesh-blog]

18 आईपीएस अफसरों के स्थानांतरण, 11 जिलों के कप्तान भी बदले

उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार ने देर रात 18 आईपीएस अफसरों के स्थानांतरण कर दिये। 11 जिलों के कप्तान भी बदले गये हैं। कानपुर रेंज के आईजी प्रशांत कुमार (द्वितीय) को ईओडब्ल्यू में आईजी बनाया है, उनके स्थान पर झांसी रेंज के डीआईजी जोगेंद्र कुमार को कानपुर रेंज का आईजी बनाया गया है। वाराणसी के डीआईजी अखिलेश चौरसिया को भ्रष्टाचार निवारण संगठन भेजा गया है, उनके स्थान पर प्रोन्नत हुये बदायूं के वरिष्ठ पुलिस…

[nationallawreview]

OIG Releases Special Fraud Alert About Suspect Payments in Marketing Arrangements Related to Medicare Advantage and Providers

On December 11, 2024, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG”) issued a special fraud alert warning about certain marketing schemes that involve questionable payments and referrals between Medicare Advantage (“MA”) health plans, health care professionals, and third-party marketers (e.g., agents and brokers) and that can mislead MA enrollees into…

[justinspoliticalcorner]

David Edwards at Raw Story:

A report from the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General found "no evidence" to support the claims of Republican officials who alleged undercover FBI agents provoked the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In a comprehensive report released Thursday, the DOJ watchdog said it had reviewed evidence and testimony following the Jan. 6 riot, but there were no "undercover employees in the various protest crowds, or at the Capitol, on January 6." At least three confidential human sources were said to have been at the Capitol on Jan. 6, but "none of these three FBI CHSs were authorized to enter the Capitol or a restricted area, or to otherwise break the law."

[...] Conspiracy theorists have regularly referred to the event as a "fedsurrection." Earlier this year, a poll found that 25% of Americans believed the FBI "probably" or "definitely" instigated the violence that day.

A report from the DOJ’s Office of Inspector General debunks the bullshit “fedsurrection” narrative pushed by right-wing history revisionists who make excuses for the domestic terrorists who violently stormed the Capitol on 01.06.2021.

[apacnewsnetwork0]

New Delhi: Gaurav Singh IPS officer 2012-batch of the Maharashtra cadre, has been appointed Superintendent of Police (SP) in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He has been inducted into the federal agency for a five-year tenure, as per an order from the Ministry of Personnel.

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

The Washington Post reported that administration officials informed Congress of the 100 foreign military sales to Israel in a classified briefing. Few details are known of the sales, because keeping each one small meant their contents remained secret, but they are reported to have included precision-guided munitions, small diameter bombs, bunker busters, small arms and other lethal aid. The Arms Export Control Act makes significant exceptions for arms sales to close allies – a limit of $25m for ‘major defense equipment’, defined as big-ticket items that require a lot of research and development, but the limit rises to $100m for other “defense articles” like bombs. “This doesn’t just seem like an attempt to avoid technical compliance with US arms export law, it’s an extremely troubling way to avoid transparency and accountability on a high-profile issue,” Ari Tolany, director of the security assistance monitor at the Centre for International Policy thinktank, said. She added that, in exploiting the loophole, the Biden administration was following the steps of its predecessor. “They’re very much borrowing from the Trump playbook to dodge congressional oversight,” Tolany said. The state department office of the inspector general found that between 2017 and 2019, the Trump administration had made 4,221 below-threshold arms transfers to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, worth an estimated total of $11.2bn.

[meandmybigmouth]

AND DON'T FORGET THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS