The GAO (The Daily Caveat loves the GAO) has been asked by members of Congress to take a look at the use of outside compliance monitors by the Justice Department in criminal investigations - specifically, the way in which contracts have been awarded and overseen.

Take, for example, the $50 million dollar contract offered to The Ashcroft Group (that would be former Attorney General, John Ashcroft for those of you playing at home) by U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie in New Jersey.

Congress is considering a bill that would allow it oversight of the deferred prosecution agreements (controversial in their own right) that often result in this type of, potentially lucrative government monitoring. See this lengthy piece from The Washington Post for more details.

-- MDT

Labels: Ashcroft Group, attorney client privilege, GAO, monitorships