By Matt Renner, t r u t h o u t
Howard Krongard, the State Department inspector general, recused himself from all investigations involving the controversial private security firm Blackwater USA, when confronted with evidence obtained by a prominent Democrat that showed Krongard had a previously undisclosed conflict of interest.
During testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Democratic members of Congress revealed Alvin “Buzzy” Krongard, a former top CIA official and Howard Krongard’s brother, recently became a member of the Blackwater advisory board and was paid to attend a meeting in Virginia earlier this week, facts Howard Krongard initially disputed.
Emails from the president of Blackwater, Erik Prince, show Alvin Krongard accepted the board member position in September. Howard Krongard testified he spoke with his brother in early October, after his brother apparently became a member of the board, and his brother “assured” him he did not have a “financial interest” in Blackwater. Krongard looked surprised and sounded offended when first confronted with the evidence of his brother’s involvement.