United States Department of the Interior

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

Washington, DC 20240

MAR 3 0 2016
Memorandum
To:

Mary Kendall, Deputy Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General

From:

Larry Roberts, Acting Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairt:57~

Subject:

Report of Investigation - Improper Hiring at BIE Case No. OI-PI-14-0422-I

I have reviewed the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Report of Investigation entitled: Improper
Hiring at BIE (Case No. OI-PI-14-0422-I), dated February 25, 2016. The report was the result of
allegations received by the OIG that Charles Roessel, the Director of the Bureau of Indian
Education (BIE), abused his position to inappropriately hire two individuals - one with whom he
has a romantic relationship and another who is a close family member.
I am deeply troubled by the findings summarized in the Report. As set forth in the Report, the
evidence demonstrates that Mr. Roessel appears to have violated statutory and regulatory ethics
provisions, including prohibitions against Federal employees (i) granting any preference or
advantage to another employee or job applicant with the intent of improving that person's
prospects for employment; (ii) exhibiting preferential treatment; (iii) using one's official position
for private gain; and (iv) employing relatives. Additionally, the Report outlines unacceptable
behavior of Mr. Roessel during the course of the investigation in his failure to be forthright and
truthful about the series of events that were the subject of the allegations.
The Department of the Interior (Department) recognizes the important work that the OIG
performs in ensuring that all individuals throughout the organization are aware of and adhering
to applicable rules and regulations, and the OIG provides an important service to the Department
as we continuously improve our management operations. Senior leaders, including Mr. Roessel,
have a responsibility to be truthful in their interactions with the OIG and model that behavior for
all employees.
Given the gravity of the issues raised in the Report, the Department is taking immediate action to
address these issues responsibly. In order to ensure smooth operations of BIE while these issues
are being addressed, the Department is detailing Mr. Roessel out of the BIE Director position,
effective immediately, and the Department will undertake appropriate disciplinary action against
Mr. Roessel in the coming weeks. Deputy Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Ann Marie
Bledsoe Downs will assume the role of Acting BIE Director.
Thank you again for your work on this investigation.