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Dan Epstein, the executive director of Cause of Action, uses public advocacy to ensure greater transparency
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Have you heard of cause of action.
Actually I hadn't it is fascinating and it's what we're gonna do now it's a call to stop lavish spending.
In Washington DC and they say these letters I have some of them here.
And they say things like.
To the United States Department of Commerce.
Attention waved and -- Green junior acting counsel to the inspector general.
Mr.
Green.
We -- on behalf of cause of action a nonprofit nonpartisan organization.
That uses public advocacy and legal reform strategies to ensure greater transparency in government and protect taxpayer interest and economic freedom.
This is a four way up as we journalists call it a Freedom of Information Act request they want to see exactly how the money's being spent.
And then a letter goes on and they give all sorts of instances like.
You also -- it doesn't say all that's just me talk him.
835000.
Dollars of taxpayers' money on a -- We feel that's -- that's -- can you tell us what it's about.
Fascinating I ever get an answer back let's welcome now -- Epstein.
Up with cause of action fascinating.
Good to have you here this morning hey thanks so much for having you flatter there are really interesting so wet and his government officials say when -- when they get something like that's.
Well we've just recently sent these letters and cause of action my organization is dedicated to exposing waste fraud and mismanagement in our government.
And that's why we've sent these letters we sent them -- sixteen agencies and their inspector general's offices which -- the offices that are supposed to audit how the agencies spend money.
And we just got these letters out after the GSA scandal broke.
And are still waiting on some responses -- -- we're trying to get some transparency from this administration and the agencies that are part of it.
I'm putting -- -- -- out on Twitter wears Armani yelling.
That that's out there.
That's absolutely -- and you know in addition to sending these letters to -- sixteen agencies and their inspector general's.
Cause of action is also planning on sending letters to the Office of Government Ethics.
Into the office of special council because as we saw from this week's house oversight committee.
The inspector general of the General Services Administration had explains that.
I'm mr.
nearly Jeff nearly view was basically in charge of the excessive spending add GSA -- hotels in Las Vegas and whatnot.
That basically whistle blowers came forward to the GSA and said we want to blow the whistle on the fried.
And Jeff nearly said you know I'm gonna retaliate against the U.
And so that leads groups like cause of action say hey what is the Office of Special Counsel.
Which is part of the administration what are they doing about potential whistle blower complaints about fraud at the GSA and other agencies and so ultimately.
From cause of actions perspective.
Our concern is whether or not this administration is gonna take responsibility.
For the waste fraud and mismanagement that's happening with tax dollars throughout several agencies and we believe.
GSA is is not an isolated example that there's other agencies that are wasting money.
On things that are not creating jobs new pointer certificate to a federal employee has created a single job.
You know it's interesting people know this last name dealing with the GSA.
Because of the scandal.
And he is the guy that I alluded to earlier in the show.
-- decided on the stand to take the fifth and not speak up about whatever he may or may not know with this latest scandal.
Having to do with an excess of 800000 dollar spent on a lavish trip to Las Vegas.
Hired and -- -- they hired a cloud of fortune -- so on and so forth so what you're saying is that very guy ahead of you aren't even talking to him.
While we we actually we hadn't been well not -- on him but yet we have been focused on and and we paid particular attention to you.
The IG report that came out -- inspector general Miller at the General Services Administration.
And what was interesting just from reviewing that report and reviewing his testimony before congress.
Is that nearly was not only guy who is out there to waste tax dollars to spend -- -- an excessive manner.
But he was also someone who is completely against transparency.
You know be it was alleged that individual employees went up through the ranks of the General Services Administration all the way -- mr.
nearly.
To say hey.
There's -- -- tax dollars.
You know being spent here.
And nearly just said.
Look if you're if you're gonna blow the whistle on anything -- you're gonna go to the inspector general I'm gonna retaliate against you in that.
That actually raises certain legal questions that my -- -- -- what would that mean exactly.
Well I can tell you there's law on the books that whether it's it's the Office of Special Counsel that's those who enforce these things.
Or whether it's the office of -- -- -- ethics or the White House.
You're not allowed to you retaliate against whistle blowers and you know federal employees -- actually I have protections and so.
What cause of actions concern is this is yet there's an enormous waste of tax dollars here.
And when you talk about 850000.
Dollars spent on a conference.
At a lavish hotel and getting suites for government employees.
-- that that is a waste of tax dollars but in addition to that.
If you're actually retaliating or threatening federal employees -- -- trying to go public about the waste of tax dollars.
Then you're committing potential legal violations -- that something where cause of action is now and in the steps of sending requests for investigations of the Office of Special Counsel into the Office of Government Ethics.
It -- I think anybody can -- sort of about the things they don't take it personally that your awfully young.
And I'm wondering how -- a guy like you sit around a kitchen table with his buddy says you know what let's go after the government how does come about.
Well I actually spent several years at the house oversight committee as counsel for oversight investigations.
And decided that ultimately why it is needed it is an organization that can use litigation and other.
Legal and and to -- tools to fight.
Government overreach waste fraud and mismanagement and so that's that.
That's my passion and that's why I started cause of action -- we are aggressively trying to pursue government waste fraud and mismanagement and.
Very fascinating -- went with you I have read through this letter pitching emailed us or fax us this morning because I wanted to know what types of things should -- -- of these government officials.
And at the very little letter on page OPEC -- ten pages long.
On -- and ending pages it says in complying with this request.
You should produce all responsive documents that are in your possession custody or control and -- getting sent this to the United States department of convert the commerce.
The acting counsel to the inspector general.
This is a legal document they can't really ignore that.
That's actually rate in the way cause of action drafts it's four years as we draft our Freedom of Information Act request.
As legal documents that if the agency -- fail to respond.
We plan on bringing them to court to ensure it's.
That so -- -- agencies will be sued if they do not respond.
