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![handle is hein.presidents/usgvtwht0104 and id is 1 raw text is:
Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence
Community's Statement on the Council of the Inspectors
General on Integrity and Efficiency's Letter to the
Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel
(October 25, 2019) On October 22, 2019, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and
Efficiency (CIGIE) sent a letter on behalf of 67 Inspectors General to the Honorable Steven A.
Engel, Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (OLC).
In its letter, CIGIE expresses support for the position taken by the Inspector General of the
Intelligence Community (ICIG), as set forth in the ICIG's earlier letter to OLC, dated September
17, 2019. In its letter of support, CIGIE stated, [W]e agree with the ICIG that the OLC opinion
creates a chilling effect on effective oversight and is wrong as a matter of law and policy. We urge
you to reconsider the conclusions of the OLC opinion and withdraw or modify it. CIGIE also
concluded that: OLC substituted its judgment and reversed a determination the statute specifically
entrusted to the ICIG because of its independence, objectivity, and expertise to credibly assess the
information. In our view, the OLC's opinion undermines the independence of the ICIG and
wrongly interprets the respective roles and responsibilities of IGs and agency heads under the
ICWPA [Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act].
The Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community appreciates the commitment
of the Inspectors General throughout the nation, Congressional Members and staff, and other
stakeholders who work tirelessly to ensure that individuals in the federal government who disclose
allegations of wrongdoing in good faith and in an authorized manner are protected from reprisal
or the threat of reprisal.
The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 established the Office of the Inspector General of the
Intelligence Community within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The ICIG's mission is to provide
independent and objective oversight of the programs and activities within the responsibility and authority of the
Director of National Intelligence, to initiate and conduct independent audits, inspections, investigations, and reviews,
and to lead and coordinate the efforts of the Intelligence Community Inspectors General Forum. The ICIG's goal is
to have a positive and enduring impact throughout the Intelligence Community, to lead and coordinate the efforts of
an integrated Intelligence Community Inspectors General Forum, and to enhance the ability of the United States
Intelligence Community to meet national security needs while respecting our nation's laws and reflecting its values.
The Forum consists of the twelve statutory and administrative Inspectors General having oversight responsibility for
an element of the Intelligence Community. The Chair of the Forum is the Inspector General of the Intelligence
Community.](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.presidents/usgvtwht0104&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)