Grassley Seeks Watchdog Records Amid Whistleblower Reports Of Racially Biased Behavior By ATF Nominee

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is seeking federal records that may corroborate whistleblower accounts that President Biden’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) displayed racial bias while serving as a supervisor at the agency. The whistleblower accounts follow news reports that the nominee, David Chipman, allegedly made racially insensitive remarks about employees seeking promotions. These new whistleblower reports allege that Chipman filed a meritless complaint that a black employee cheated on an assessment for a promotion.

 

“This new allegation is further corroboration of the despicable comments Mr. Chipman is alleged to have made. In fact it goes even further, providing evidence that Mr. Chipman acted upon his racial animus to effectively end the career of a longtime law-enforcement agent. How much smoke does this Committee need before it puts out the fire? The fact that the latest allegations supposedly resulted in an OIG report means that there is documentation supporting this claim in the possession of the Justice Department. I intend to get it,” Grassley said.

 

In a letter to the Justice Department Inspector General, Grassley is seeking all records related to Chipman’s alleged complaints, along with other personnel complaints filed by or filed regarding Chipman.

 

Grassley’s letter is available HERE.

 

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