WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today questioned why the Justice Department declined to prosecute an Assistant United States Attorney after the department’s Inspector General found at least one image of child pornography on the attorney’s work computer. The Inspector General also determined that the attorney had spent hours viewing adult content during work hours.
According to the Inspector General’s report, the Assistant U.S. Attorney acknowledged he had spent a significant amount of time each day viewing pornography. The report also cited that at least one image of child pornography was recovered on the attorney’s government computer. The report indicates that the U.S. Attorney’s office declined to prosecute the case and as of May 31, 2011, disciplinary action against the attorney was still pending.
Grassley said he was concerned that the attorney, who admitted viewing pornography on the taxpayers’ dime, was employed by the federal government at least two months after the allegations were outlined in the Inspector General report.
In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Grassley questioned the department’s decision to not prosecute and delay disciplinary action against the attorney. He also asked the types of cases the attorney worked on and the steps the department has taken to update its technology to keep pornography off its computers.
Last year, Grassley learned that 33 employees at the Securities and Exchange Commission who were found to have viewed pornography during work hours were not terminated and were given uneven and light disciplinary action.
Click here for a copy of the signed letter.
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