Congressman Conyers on Kos

Congressman John Conyers has a diary on Daily Kos :

Investigating John Kerry Post-Haste, While Condoleezza Rice Goes to the Back Burner

The Office of Special Counsel, which investigates campaign fundraising violations by government officials and employees under the Hatch Act, seems to be sweeping Republican violations under the rug. I have received reports from whistle-blowers that, in the lead up to the 2004 Presidential Campaign, an investigation of then-National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice was assumed by high ranking partisans in the office and placed on the back burner, while the same high ranking partisans gave their immediate attention to an investigation of Senator John Kerry.
On October 10, 2004, the Washington Post reported that then-National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice was giving campaign-oriented speeches in presidential battleground states. The article stated that "[t]he frequency and location of her speeches differ[ed] sharply from those before this election year - and appear[ed] to break with the long-standing precedent that the national security adviser try to avoid overt involvement in the presidential campaign."

What compounded the problem was that she seemingly was giving these political speeches on the taxpayers' dime, and that is not only unusual but illegal under the Hatch Act, which generally prohibits campaign activity on government time or on government property. So I wrote to the Special Counsel, Scott Bloch, saying he should investigate this blatant violation of the law and abuse of public funds. To date, I've heard nothing, but apparently much has transpired behind the scenes since I wrote that letter.

Apparently, during the same period of time, the OSC received and expedited an investigation of then-Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. It sought information from NASA on whether Sen. Kerry gave a political speech on federal property. While this was expedited, Bloch apparently sat on the investigation of Rice's travels that I asked him to commence until after the 2004 Presidential election.

The irony is not lost on me. The officer tasked with ensuring that the executive branch does not engage in partisan political activity is apparently prioritizing such investigations in accordance with his own partisan aims.