Nepotism running rampant at Interpol’s D.C. office, Justice Department alleges

Nepotism running rampant at Interpol’s D.C. office, Justice Department alleges

A report from the inspector general alleges that Warren Lewis, the executive director of the office, used his position to secure his son a job, as well as positions for three of his son's acquaintances.

The Justice Department’s inspector general’s office has reported that nepotism is running rampant at Interpol’s Washington D.C. office, where its executive officer is allegedly using his position to get work for his relatives.

The inspector general released a report Wednesday that alleged that not only was the executive officer doing this, but other high-ranking agency officials were using their position in a similar way, getting internships for people they knew and creating a “culture of nepotism and favoritism,” the report states according to Fox News.

The Justice Department oversees Interpol’s Washington D.C. office. It acts as a liaison between the U.S. government and Interpol, which is an international law enforcement body.

The report covers 2011 and 2012, and states that executive director Warren Lewis to set aside a position for his son and provide extra attention to him “for obvious reason.” His son was brought on as an intern in the summer of 2011 and later hired as a contractor. Lewis was receiving rent from his son at the time.

The report further alleges that Lewis helped three acquaintances of his son get jobs in the agency, even though he had never even met two of them and thus had no clue what their professional experience was. All three of them failed to make the list of qualified applicants, so Lewis stepped in, the report states.

The report went on to say that Lewis and other Interpol managers often chose students for unpaid internships simply because of the connections they had, and that an internship coordinator told investigators she wouldn’t have brought them on based on their qualifications, but felt that Lewis had referred them to her for a reason and she had to take them.

Lewis has been in his position since September 2007, and has not commented on the report. The inspector general’s office will look into possible disciplinary action.

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