Report: Ring Incident Raised Questions About NASA Official
Posted on: Wednesday, 4 April 2007, 06:00 CDT
By Traci Watson
WASHINGTON -- The top watchdog at NASA squelched a public plea for help in finding a ring reportedly taken from the remains of an astronaut who died aboard space shuttle Columbia in 2003, according to a federal investigative report made available Tuesday.
The report by the Integrity Committee, a board that investigates inspectors general, said NASA Inspector General Robert Cobb's action "created the appearance of a lack of independence." Cobb was also found to be abusive to staff.
The findings prompted House Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., and other lawmakers to call for Cobb's firing.
Cobb did not return calls seeking comment. The report, which has not been publicly released, was made available for review by the science panel.
Inspectors general are independent investigators who ferret out waste and abuse. They are supposed to "be free both in fact and appearance from ... impairments to independence," according to their code of standards.
In 2004, Cobb went "ballistic" when told that Texas law enforcement officers wanted to put out a Crime Stoppers report to find the wedding band of astronaut Laurel Clark, according to statements made to investigators. Clark and six crewmates died when the shuttle crumbled over eastern Texas.
"Two witnesses ... suggest that ... Cobb inserted himself in the investigation with the intent of ensuring NASA would not be embarrassed," a report summary said.
The board also found that Cobb occasionally played golf and had drinks with Sean O'Keefe, NASA chief from 2001 to 2005.
NASA chief Michael Griffin has "concerns" about the findings, spokesman David Mould said. Griffin has not called for Cobb's dismissal because the auditor did not break the law, Mould said.
Only the president can dismiss the NASA inspector general. White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said Tuesday that the administration has confidence in Griffin's plan for Cobb, whom President Bush appointed in 2002.
Griffin told the council overseeing auditors that Cobb will get management training.
In 2004, Cobb rejected publicizing the reported missing ring after the Texas Rangers spent months investigating the matter.
An astronaut who helped recover Clark's remains and a mortician both said they saw a ring, said Laurel's widower, Jonathan Clark, but it was not found. Cobb said not enough work had been done to ensure the ring existed.
"I wanted us to know what the facts were before ... the publication of this incendiary document," Cobb told Integrity Committee investigators.
Video footage shot by the Columbia crew was recovered after the shuttle accident. Based on that footage, Jonathan Clark said, he didn't think his wife was wearing a ring when she died. Even so, he said, NASA should not have blocked the appeal for help.
"I just want the truth," he said.
Contributing: David Jackson (c) Copyright 2005 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Source: USA TODAY
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