EPA Staffer Watches Porn For 2-6 Hours Every Day, Receives Performance Awards

WASHINGTON — An employee at the Environmental Protection Agency downloaded more than 7,000 pornographic files onto a government computer and viewed them for two to six hours a day, according to the agency’s independent watchdog.

The worker, who wasn’t identified, was watching pornography when a special agent showed up at his work space, Allan Williams, the EPA’s deputy assistant inspector general for investigations, told lawmakers Wednesday.

“True deterrence of employee misconduct at the EPA ultimately rests with agency executives and managers to set a tone that ensures such behavior will not be condoned,” Williams told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The allegations emerged in a broader examination of EPA employees. The EPA’s 16,000 employees are facing greater scrutiny by the Office of Inspector General after the 2013 conviction of senior agency official John Beale for collecting paychecks for more than a decade during which he had not worked. Beale explained absences to his EPA supervisors by telling them he was working on classified projects, including for the Central Intelligence Agency, which wasn’t true.

Bob Perciasepe, the No. 2 EPA official, told the House panel everyone is “offended by the actions” of Beale, who was charged with stealing $900,000 in pay and benefits.

“We have taken steps to put measures in place to help ensure this type of fraud cannot be repeated,” he said.

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