CNMI hails congressional probe of Interior officials

Commonwealth leaders yesterday hailed efforts by the US. House Resources Committee to investigate alleged violations of the Hatch Act by some Department of the Interior officials over their conduct related to the Northern Marianas labor situation.

Chairman Dan Young (R-Alaska) has summoned Interior Secretary Bruce Babbit, Office of the Insular Affairs acting Director Ferdinand Aranza and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) for the probe in a subpoena issued early this month.

To avoid being cited for contempt by the Congress, Aranza has turned over records contained in the OIA computer software and hardware to the committee, which may prove charges that its public affairs officer David North used government time and resources to provide damaging information to DCCC about some Republican lawmakers.

These actions, if proven, violate the Hatch Act, which forbids federal employees from engaging in political activities.

Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes said he was not surprised by the committee’s decision to inquire into the OIA activities, alleging that some of its officials have been known to “dig dirt” about the CNMI.

“They have always been our strongest adversary,” he said when sought for comment on the latest action by the House panel, which has jurisdiction over the Northern Marianas and other US territories.

“I won’t even be surprised if this investigator who came out here not too long ago was instructed to find dirt from the garment industry so that the Interior can use them against the CNMI,” he added.

A resolution to congratulate Young’s panel, according to the senator, may be adopted by the Legislature to express the government’s approval of the probe which comes two months before the scheduled oversight hearing by the same committee on the CNMI labor situation.

“It’s proper for the House committee to look into this because it’s not right for the Interior department to continue their vendetta against the CNMI,” he explained.

According to Reyes, Interior officials may have come overboard to include in their attack US. elected officials, particularly House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), Majority Whip Tom Delay (R-Texas), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-California) and Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska).

The data offered to DCCC might have had connection with the controversy involving the working conditions on the island. These lawmakers are strong allies of the local government and its economic policy.

“To heighten their differences with the CNMI through the tactics and smear campaign they bring against us, they also single out elected US. congressmen and apply the same kind of things,” he said.

Rep. Melvin Faisao, chair of the House Federal and Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed the move in view of the mounting criticisms leveled against the Commonwealth by some Washington officials.

“The House Resources Committee is doing their job,” he said. “They have to ensure that taxpayers’ money are not being abused and misspent.”

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, however, expressed surprise over the probe, but declined to give comment.

Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan underscored its significance to the forthcoming hearing, saying that the Commonwealth government has been cooperative with the Interior department in trying to resolve contentious issues.

“If there is any animosity we have tried our best to face realities and communicate with the Interior officials to the extent that we can fully cooperate and try to resolve several issues,” he said in a separate interview.