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Did Cookie Try To Convince Buzzy Not To Join Blackwater's Advisory Board?
In the middle of a story in the Baltimore Sun about the sibling tension between State Department inspector general Cookie Krongard and his brother Buzzy, there's this revelation: apparently, in the phone conversation where Buzzy told Cookie he was going over to Blackwater, Cookie tried to talk his brother out of it.
Buzzy Krongard was watching that testimony at home in Lutherville and said he was "flabbergasted" by his brother's remarks. The pair had talked about three weeks earlier, Buzzy Krongard said. "I told him I was going on the advisory board, and he then said, 'I don't think that's a very good idea,' and I said that was for me to figure out."
Cookie Krongard, as we reported yesterday, is not saying another word about the incident. But Buzzy's latest revelation -- which he did not mention to me when TPMm broke the story -- suggests even more trouble for Cookie. If true, then Cookie clearly acknowledged that the appointment of his brother to Blackwater's advisory board would create a conflict of interest for him as the State Department inspector general.
It's possible that Buzzy is lying. The two brothers do not get along. But according to Buzzy, he tried to call his brother right after Cookie testified that Buzzy had not mentioned his Blackwater ties. That call led Cookie to reverse himself. A relatively simple explanation is that Buzzy thought his brother had thrown him under the bus and was trying to correct the record.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), who presented Cookie with direct evidence of his brother's position on the Blackwater advisory board, wants to cut through the brother-against-brother conflict. He's even using the C-word -- "criminal." (What did you think I meant?)
"There's a credibility issue as to who's being honest here," Cummings said. He said he found the animosity between the brothers not only unusual but hard to understand."The committee members are everyday people. They understand there can be disputes between relatives," Cummings said. "But I think when it comes to a point where one sibling - and I'm talking about people over 60 now, these aren't 13-year-olds - putting another in a position where they could be harmed from a reputation standpoint, even perhaps from a criminal standpoint ... I think it's hard for most people to relate to that."
The committee is now seeking to interview Buzzy Krongard and determine who's telling the truth.
Comments (9)
Jones Day wrote on November 16, 2007 12:28 PM:Spencer - Buzzy also told you he only watched "the begninning" of the hearing, did he mention that he had actually seen his brother testify, as he claims in the Sun article?
moondancer wrote on November 16, 2007 1:05 PM:C word? How about P and O? Looks like a slam dunk on perjury and obstruction.
The Confidence Man wrote on November 16, 2007 1:06 PM:Spencer:
Take a less charitable, more jaundiced look at what Cookie allegedly told Buzzy -- 'I don't think that's a very good idea.'
Now, sure, your first instinct could be correct: "I don't think that's a very good idea (because it could put me in a position where I'd have a conflict of interest. As an ethical person and dedicated googoo public servant, I would be honor-bound to report this)."
Uh-huh.
But try this on: "I don't think that's a very good idea (because I'm in possession of a lot of disturbing information about the company that leads me to worry that you may get unfairly compromised yourself if you associate yourself with them)."
Or perhaps: "I don't think that's a very good idea (because I'm up to a lot of unethical and possibly illegal stuff in my own dealings with them, and I don't want you to find that out)."
Or even: "I don't think that's a very good idea (because I'm up to a lot of unethical and possibly illegal stuff in my own dealings with them, and I don't want you to horn in on my action)."
JM wrote on November 16, 2007 1:26 PM:Or "I don't think that's a very good idea" which means "I was informed that you told me you were going to be on Blackwater's Advisory Board". That's the proof of evidence. He did "hear" and he did "know" in order to respond to dear Buzzy
M wrote on November 16, 2007 1:34 PM:Only somewhat off-topic: I just walked past Cookie standing in front of Morgan Lewis & Bockius at 1111 Penn (downtown DC, that is).
v. popvli wrote on November 16, 2007 2:05 PM:M,
JA wrote on November 16, 2007 2:35 PM:did you take a bite?
A little off topic here, but who in the hell names or nicknames their kids "Buzzy" and "Cookie" and how stupid is it to still call each other by those stupid names when they are adults!!!!
Roberta wrote on November 16, 2007 4:58 PM:It was a common thing in that generation for sons named after their fathers to go by nicknames, and Buzz is one I've often heard of over the years. I knew a Buzz that would be about that same age now. Chip (as in off the old block) is another.
Cookie, though . . . I don't even want to speculate. I've never heard of a male with that nickname. It sounds as if it was a taunting name from an older sibling that stuck.
Anonymous wrote on November 27, 2007 11:52 PM:Buzz Aldrin is a jr. and Buzz is a nickname. My father is a jr. and his nickname is Buzz or Buzzy (mainly within the family).