Not His Brother's Keeper?

If it had happened in a courtroom, it would have been the Perry Mason moment.

Instead, it was during a congressional hearing that State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard learned, apparently for the first time, that his brother is serving on the advisory board of Blackwater — the U.S. security firm under federal investigation after a Baghdad shooting.

Henry Waxman, chairman of the House oversight committee, started the session by noting Alvin "Buzzy" Krongard's Blackwater connections, but Howard Krongard strongly denied them. "When these ugly rumors started recently, I specifically asked him. I do not believe it is true that he is a member of the advisory board that you stated. And that's something I think I need to say," he told the committee.

But Democrat Elijah Cummings of Connecticut produced e-mails from Erik Prince, the head of Blackwater, welcoming Buzzy Krongard to the board.

After a break, Howard Krongard said he had spoken with his brother and that Buzzy was connected to Blackwater. He immediately recused himself from all matters concerning the security firm.

Even Howard Krongard's supporters on the committee were upset. "He has done you tremendous damage by that," Republican Chris Shays of Connecticut told Krongard.

The Associated Press reports Krongard also has relinquished his role in an investigation of corruption allegations related to the new U.S. embassy in Iraq and is under heavy pressure to resign.

NPR's Michele Kelemen told me there is no word yet on whether the controversy will affect Howard Krongard's long-term position. But she notes that he didn't appear to have anyone from the State Department with him at Wednesday's hearing. A former staffer who quit in August said he didn't recognize anyone from Krongard's office there.

1:28 PM ET | 11-15-2007 | permalink