Press

PRESS

November 19, 2009

CREW Calls for Probe into Galbraith’s Role in Iraq

Requests for Investigation, Federal Agencies, Department of State, Transparency, Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Today, CREW sent a letter to Harold W. Geisel, acting inspector general of the U.S. Department of State, requesting that he open an investigation into the role former Ambassador Peter W. Galbraith played in the drafting of the Iraqi constitution on behalf of the Kurds, particularly provisions that helped the Kurds obtain control of their oil fields.

Recent media reports have revealed that Ambassador Galbraith stands to earn $100 million or more from oil rights he obtained through provisions of the Iraqi constitution he pushed through. Others involved in the drafting of the Iraq constitution have questioned the propriety of Ambassador Galbraith’s role, suggesting it calls into question the integrity of the constitutional negotiations themselves.

CREW requested an investigation into Ambassador Galbraith’s role in this matter — did he act with the knowledge and approval of the State Department? And, if not, what checks are in place to monitor and control the actions of private citizens who trade in on their former government employment for personal profit, notwithstanding the possible effects on U.S. foreign policy?

Click here to read CREW's letter to the State Department Inspector General.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a non-profit legal watchdog group dedicated to holding public officials accountable for their actions. For more information, please visit www.citizensforethics.org or contact David Merchant at 202.408.5565 or dmerchant@citizensforethics.org