Oct. 21, 2013

SIGAR Hires Department of Justice Veteran to Run Agency’s Afghanistan Operations

ARLINGTON, Va. – John F. Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, today announced that veteran Justice Department lawyer David Schwendiman will join the agency as its Kabul-based Director of Forward Operations.Mr. Schwendiman has extensive international experience, and most recently served as Justice Attaché at the U.S.

Sept. 6, 2013

SIGAR response to USAID comments on S-RAD

Aug. 9, 2013

SIGAR Investigation Leads To Freeze On $63 Million Traced To Alleged Corruption in Afghanistan

SIGAR and Justice Department Initiate First Bank Account Seizures Attempted in AfghanistanSIGAR’s investigation of large-scale corruption in Afghanistan led to the Department of Justice freezing more than $63 million in U.S. government funds, allegedly obtained through fraudulent means, located in bank accounts held in Afghanistan and in

July 5, 2013

SIGAR responds to State Department-USAID and Department of Defense list of 10 best and 10 worst reconstruction projects in Afghanistan

June 24, 2013

SIGAR receives State Department-USAID and Department of Defense response to inquiry requesting lists of 10 best and 10 worst reconstruction projects in Afghanistan

May 15, 2013

Remarks prepared for delivery by Special Inspector General John F. Sopko at the Association of Former Senate Aides, Washington, D.C.

Good afternoon. It is a privilege to be here today. Being with you today reminds me how important it is to maintain the friendships we formed when all of us served in the Senate as staffers.When I first came to Washington in 1982 to work for the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and met some of you, I thought I would stay for only a year, or

May 8, 2013

Remarks prepared for delivery by Special Inspector General John F. Sopko at the New America Foundation, Washington, D.C.

Good afternoon. I want to express my gratitude to the New America Foundation for inviting me to speak today, and I want to acknowledge your commitment to new ideas and new approaches as we face the challenges of the 21st century.Given the many challenges we face at home and abroad -- and especially in Afghanistan -- everyone must commit themselves

April 8, 2013

SIGAR Special Agent Testifies in Afghan Criminal Court; Unprecedented Testimony Results in Longer Prison Sentence for Politically Connected Defendant

ARLINGTON, Va. –A special agent for the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) recently testified in Afghanistan Appellate Court against a politically connected Afghan who tried to defraud the U.S. Government. The agent’s testimony against Mohammad Ibrahim Ashna, charged with theft and bribery totaling more than $1

Feb. 4, 2013

Remarks prepared for delivery by Special Inspector General John F. Sopko at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.

It’s a real honor for me to be here today at CSIS. In many ways, this is a bit of a homecoming for me, having worked for over 15 years for Senator Sam Nunn, who is Chairman of CSIS’ Board of Trustees, as well as with John Hamre, who has been the tireless leader of CSIS since 2000.In many ways, those 15 years working with Senator Nunn helped prepare

Jan. 10, 2013

Remarks prepared for delivery by Special Inspector General John F. Sopko at the Stimson Center, Washington, D.C.

Thank you, Ellen, for that generous introduction.I'm honored to be here today at the Stimson Center – an institution named for and inspired by a man who helped guide the nation through some of the most difficult challenges it has ever faced, and an organization that I remember calling upon for guidance and assistance on many occasions when I was