IG Report: Governor Misused Funds: Updated
Governor ignored"checks and balances" by diverting funds Legislature authorized for road repair.
Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr.
(Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with the full color, unmarked version of the IG report on the Mafoliegate investigation and includes color photographs of the Estate Mafolie renovations. Be patient – the file takes a while to load.)
Crucians In Focus has obtained a copy of the US Department of the Interior Inspector General’s report concerning Governor John P. deJohngh’s use of public funds to construct a guardhouse, security fence and driveway/parking lot at his private Estate Mafolie residence on St. Thomas.
According to the report, the investigation concluded, “We found that the funds used for the purpose of providing security at your private residence were set aside for road repairs in the Virgin Islands by the Legislative Branch of Government. In using those funds, the Executive Branch of Government improperly diverted roughly half-a-million dollars of specifically earmarked public funds and usurped the authority of the Legislative Branch of Government.
“Under Virgin Islands law, only the Legislature is authorized to determine how public funds can be spent,” wrote Mary L. Kendall, Acting Inspector General.
The Governor has until February 16, 2010 to respond to the report.
The Governor is dangerous only to those that want him out of office. He is a threat to those who are plotting against him and are waging a nasty campaign to discredit him. The federal government can not charge him with any federal crime, because no federal money was used, misused or embezzled. The IG Report has falsely accused the Governor of improperly using federal funds. Where is the proof?
Ms. Cole is not protecting the governor, she fears incriminated herself. This is the reason people plea the Fifth. Some people do not want to be involved in any controversy. This does not mean they think a person is guilty of a crime. It just mean they want to remain neutral.She is simply saying to leave her out of this political game.
With all these documents floating around, why is the Governor not being charged with a crime? There is no evidence, that’s why!
The IG Report is an arrow compared to the missiles that the Governor is prepared to launch.
‘Bishop’: As I just blogged on another site,the documents do not
hint at or in fact charge the governor with any crime.What they clearly show (and contrary to any opinions rendered)is that the governor,without propper authorization,allowed for the use and spending of public funds to cover the cost of repairs to his personal and private property.That is the unquestionable act that is being laid against the governor.THE UNAUTHORIZED USE OF FUNDS.
Bishop,
I see the “Rooks” and the “Queen” moving straight down the CENTER.
While you consider your next “PAWN MOVE” beware of the “En passant” Rule.
In the mean while, you should move to rescue your “King.” He was just placed in “check” by the IG Report, and he’s very close to being “check-mated!”
The next moves ARE VERY CRITICAL!
The governor have right to be secure but usie don’t have the right to sexual harrasment fees with our funds $700,000.00 plus
he is a liabity.And you GHETTO SENATORS be careful because we are watching you flight by night senator throwing stone and have got glass houses.
if he wanted to be secure, he could have used that 490,000 to fix up the gov mansion. Now he sucked and additional 150,000 for his defense. Comon now UNREAL. you dewolf supporters have your head so far up dewolfs backside you cant smell the s h ! @ that is flying around.
Why should public funds be used to settle a sexual harassment case without votes in the Senate? All the senators voted for funds to be reprogrammed for the Governor’s security, but none cast a vote for funds to be used for Usie’s case. This is an injustice. Where is the IG Report on how much money was wasted supporting a sexual predator?
Anonymous now you talking sense.
Healthy eater am looking at things in a fair way nothing smells to me catherineburge would cost alot more maybe it could have been done but lets be real the so called informa Recon is spreading a lot of propoganda he needs to tell us about the monies he is collecting making false documents for haitians, etc and stop trying to sidetrack us from him.
Anonymous can’t be talking sense because the money spent was not on “Usie” defense, it was spent on the Legislature violating the law by not having a Sexual Harassment policy for staff.
That’s why in 2009 all government agencies made it mandatory that all staff attend sexual harassment workshops. Maybe when we want to make a point on an issue we need to give the full truth on the issue.
and he was’t the only one.
So we should not bash Usie because the Legislature failed to implement a sexual harassment policy? Did the victims got paid from Usie’s pocket or was fund from the Senate used? And we wonder why the VI is the way it is. Some people are more equal than others.
Panic is reaching new levels in the DeJongh camp. The grand jury will deal with Little John in due time. Keep it real, UNREAL.
@ Anonymous 12:41 NOW WE’RE TALKING!!!
It seems we managed to make the position of Senator one in which the senator gets to pick the laws we should have for abidance.
Sexual Harassment, as well as Pedophile, as well as Misuse Of Funds have always had laws on the books in other places with Moral Standards. We seem to be behind the times here, huh?
If we have an elected senator who has behaved inappropriately and WE are the ones paying his salary, why shouldn’t we know what and how the hush-payment was made? Heck, we are able to get an IG audit on the gov, so why can’t we get one on Usie?
UNREAL VERDEL YOU SHOULD BE THE LAST ONE TALKING ABOUT ANYONE. WHY DON’T YOU TELL US HOW MANY SENATORS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WITH.PLEASE DON;T MAKE ME CALL NAMES.///////////////.
@ Top Dog Stx
Listen everyone, Senator Neville James is holding another MAFOLIEGATE hearing this Wednesday at 6:00 pm in St. Thomas.
The de Jongh administration will try to pressure senators not to make any statements against the governor which could continue to fan the flames under his azz.
Usie has always been a target of this administration along with other corruption busters within the senate.
It is very important that calls be made to the radio talk shows today demanding that Senator Neville James move his committee to take action against the governor for violating the VI Code.
Spending public funds ahead of appropriation is a clear violation of the VI Code. The legislature and DOI IG reports clearly said that the governor did not have the authority to spend over $490,000 in public funds. Neville James committee is left with one solid choice and that is to forward this violation to the US Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
That is the out come demanded by this community because no man is above the law!
Did anyone notice that Usie left the floor during a critical vote last session re: a subpoena of the PFA records? Coincidence?
Didn’t this committee in the last meeting vote to send all the documents/findings of this inquiry to the U.S. Attorney’s office?
you are very much correct,they did vote to send all the documents to the U.S ATTORNEYS OFFICE.the motion was made by senator positive nelson.
What was the vote and who voted for and against?
Foncie made a motion to subpoena all the docs to find out how the legal bills were being paid, and suddenly there was no quorum. that’s the vote to which i am referring.