The Houston Progressive Caucus has accused the city’s Office of the Inspector General of covering for the mayor’s office because it is a division of the Houston City Attorney’s Office and therefore under the mayor’s authority.
The City of Houston’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has declined to investigate Mayor John Whitmire’s $60,000 payment to podcast producer Owen Conflenti, according to the Houston Progressive Caucus, which said it had filed a complaint with the office more than a month ago.
According to a Thursday statement from the Houston Progressive Caucus, it filed a complaint alleging waste over Whitmire’s $60,000 taxpayer-funded agreement. However, the caucus said the OIG declined to investigate the complaint.
In response to the caucus’ complaint, the OIG said it was not “the correct venue” for the complaint, according to a copy of the OIG’s letter shared with Houston Public Media on Thursday…