Statement by FBI Director Mueller Regarding the Office of Inspector General's Report, "A Review of Allegations of a Continuing Double Standard of Discipline at the FBI"

WASHINGTON, D.C. - FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III issued the following statement regarding the Office of the Inspector General's Report, "A Review of Allegations of a Continuing Double Standard of Discipline at the FBI":

"I appreciate the investigative efforts of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and I welcome their report. Last fall, I asked the OIG to conduct this review of allegations by an FBI employee (1) that disciplinary cases in the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility have 'disappeared,' 'vaporized,' or 'been glossed over,' and (2) that the FBI systematically favors senior executives over less senior employees in its imposition of discipline. I requested this review because it is important for the public to have full confidence in the work and integrity of the men and women of the FBI. After reviewing the report, I am gratified that accusations of a double standard were not substantiated, and that the OIG found no examples of a case 'disappearing' or 'vaporizing.'

"As part of our ongoing efforts to improve our discipline process, in May of this year, I commissioned a comprehensive review of the Bureau's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). To conduct this study, former Attorney General Griffin Bell and former FBI Associate Director Lee Colwell were selected.

"Judge Bell and Dr. Colwell are near completion of the fact-finding process for this study. They have reviewed voluminous documentation and statistical data regarding matters involved in the OPR process. Additionally, many employees, both current and former, participated in interviews for this study and provided candid and useful information for the review. We anticipate receiving their report and recommendations in the coming weeks and are committed to ensuring that the disciplinary process within the FBI is fair, efficient and credible. I have stated before that employees must trust that allegations of wrongdoing will be thoroughly investigated and that discipline will be appropriate and fair, regardless of the assignment or seniority of the employee involved.

"In addition, since July 2001, an Assistant Special Agent in Charge from the OIG has been detailed to the FBI's OPR and has been provided unfiltered access to all aspects of the FBI's disciplinary process. This detailee is in a position to identify - and refer to the OIG for investigation - any evidence that OPR is applying a double standard.

"In the 95 year history of the FBI, 'Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity' has been the motto for FBI employees. Nothing better ensures this standard than a fair and equitable disciplinary process that applies to all employees across the board. We look forward to receiving the recommendations of Judge Bell and Dr. Colwell, and working with the Office of the Inspector General, to improve the process of our Office of Professional Responsibility."