Waxman to Blackwater Head: Let’s Have a Chat

In the wake of the ongoing Blackwater scandal, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) wants to have a frank discussion with Erik Prince, the company’s founder. His House oversight committee will hold a hearing on Blackwater on October 2. And it just won’t be a party if Prince doesn’t attend.

Waxman sent Prince a letter today requesting his appearance at the hearing. The little-seen Blackwater official probably won’t take kindly to Waxman’s intent to question “whether the specific conduct of your company has advanced or impeded U.S. efforts.”

The Blackwater hearing offers Waxman the opportunity to link the issue with a different investigation his committee is undertaking. Waxman is also looking into whether the State Department’s inspector general, Howard “Cookie” Krongard, obstructed an inquiry into allegations that Blackwater, on a State Department contract, was illegally smuggling weapons into Iraq. Krongard has been invited to an October 20 hearing before the committee.

Text of the letter below the fold.

Dear Mr. Prince:

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hereby requests your testimony at a hearing on Tuesday, October 2, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 2154, Rayburn House Office Building.

The hearing will focus on the mission and performance of Blackwater USA and its affiliated companies in Iraq and Afghanistan. One question that will be examined is whether the government’s heavy reliance on private security contractors is serving U.S. interests in Iraq. Another question will be whether the specific conduct of your company has advanced or impeded U.S. efforts.

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee in the House of Representatives and has broad oversight jurisdiction as set forth in House Rule X. Information for witnesses appearing before the Committee is contained in the enclosed Witness Information Sheet.

If you have any questions, please contact Theodore Chuang or Christopher Davis of the Committee staff at (202) 225-5420.

Sincerely,
Henry A. Waxman
Chairman