CPB Defends Closed Meeting on IG Report
The CPB Wed. defended discussing in closed session an inspector gen.’s report on the Tomlinson investigation and withholding the report from immediate release. “Premature” release of information may be “harmful to the corporation’s interest,” CPB said. The board, whose reviewing of the report began Tues., has drawn fire from media groups for closing the sessions to the press and the public.
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Inspector Gen. Kenneth Konz began his investigation of actions by then-Chmn. Kenneth Tomlinson in May at the urging of congressional Democrats. Issues included Tomlinson’s hiring without board knowledge a Republican operative to monitor political leanings of guests on public broadcasting programs and the process that led to the appointment of board Pres. Patricia Harrison, a former Republican National Committee chmn.
The board meeting is closed because “materials and related matters being considered require the confidential advice of counsel, who will be present throughout the meeting, and will concern current and former individual employees and proprietary information,” said CPB Vp Michael Levy, who said “premature” release of such information could harm CPB. The board is discussing “preliminary” results of the IG inquiry, Levy said. Closed meetings are provided for under Sec. 396 of the Public Bcstg. Act, according to Levy.
Levy said under GAO auditing standards “auditors should report the views of responsible officials of the audited program concerning auditor’s findings, conclusions and recommendations, as well as planned corrective actions.” The standards say among the best ways to ensure a fair, complete and objective report is to get advance review and comments by responsible officials of the audited entity, he said.
The IG wants the “materials prepared by him” kept in “strict confidence” until he completes a final report, Levy said. “Individuals who review and comment on the IG reports must preserve that confidentiality and may not disclose information regarding the report prior to the IG release,” he said. The board takes its duties “very seriously” and will respond in “due course” to the IG’s findings and recommendations, Levy said.
Pres. Patricia Harrison is committed to a “stronger public broadcasting outcome,” Levy said, and “she is leading CPB forward in an accountable, open and inclusive manner.”
Jeff Chester of the Center for Digital Democracy alleged the CPB board has “gone into hiding” in a bid to “sanitize the IG report.” “We understand the reactions of some of the resident activist organizations and they are normal,” said Levy.
Asked when the IG report will be made public, Levy said the CPB board is “reviewing and considering” the preliminary report: “They will respond to those materials and prepare comments.” The IG will incorporate those comments into his document and “you will see them.”