April 9, 2006

10 Apr 2006 // Washington, DC – In light of the arrest of Department of Homeland Security Deputy Press Secretary Brian Doyle on twenty-three felony counts for allegedly seducing a minor over the Internet, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sent a letter to Patrick E. McFarland, Inspector General of the Office of Personnel Management, asking for an immediate investigation into background investigation procedures.

“We are concerned that OPM is not conducting adequate background investigations into candidates for positions with public safety agencies,” Melanie Sloan executive director of CREW said today. “Employees who have engaged in illegal activities are vulnerable to blackmail, thereby compromising our national security.”

Mr. Doyle is not the only employee under OPM’s purview arrested for sex crimes. Special Agent Frank Figueroa of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is about to go on trial in Florida for allegedly exposing himself to a minor.

“It is vital to our national security that OPM’s background investigation procedures be as thorough as possible. OPM should address this issue immediately before the federal government hires any other child predators to protect America.”

A copy of CREW’s letter is available on its website, www.citizensforethics.org.

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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 Naomi Seligman Steiner at 202.408.5565/press@citizensforethics.org.