Top NASA global warming scientist pleads guilty to contract fraud, 50 fellow scientists rush to defend him, others admit 'conflicts'

Culture of corruption at NASA:

• "More than 50 other scientists,

• including one Nobel Prize winner,

submitted letters praising his character and credentials."...

In the wake of charges against Schoeberl,

• "several NASA employees subsequently came forward

• about similar ethical conflicts."...

An award-winning NASA scientist and "one the scientific world's

• most cited authorities" on man-made global warming

plead guilty to years of contract fraud. He also failed to report income on a financial disclosure form. He was sentenced in December 2009. The government agency put him on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of his case (reported 9/22/09). He had worked there since the 1980's.

• He is the author of over 150 published articles.

"(Mark) Schoeberl was the chief scientist of the Goddard Space Flight Center's Earth Sciences Division ....He has written extensively about the...

• influence of humans on global climate change."

Dating from 2004, Schoeberl strong armed colleagues at NASA to an estimated $200,000 dollars in no-bid contracts to his wife's company. He admitted hiding some contracts and trying to convince others at NASA to go along with him.

• From Washington Post Breaking News blog account of the charge:

"This month (9/09), as part of an investigation run through the NASA inspector general's office, authorities searched the couple's home and seized computer equipment and several cellphones and digital cameras. Authorities also seized documents linked to Animated Earth, including bank records and e-mails that mention the company.

According to a biography posted on NASA's Web site,

• Mark Schoeberl is an accomplished scientist whose work

• often appears in journals.

He is a past member of the National Academy's Board of Atmospheric Sciences and was awarded NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal in 1996 and Distinguished Service Award in 2000."

12/1/09 report on his sentencing: "Three scientists, including two

• who still work for NASA, also addressed the court and
• requested leniency for Schoeberl.

More than 50 other scientists,

• including one Nobel Prize winner,

• submitted letters praising his character and credentials."...

In the wake of charges against Schoeberl,

• "several NASA employees subsequently came forward

• about similar ethical conflicts."...*****

Criminal conflicts have become merely "ethical conflicts."

• What are the details of these "similar ethical conflicts"?

• Who will report on this on behalf of US citizens?

Reference: Washington Post Breaking News Blog, "NASA Scientist Charged in Maryland with Aiding Wife's Firm," 9/22/09

• GovernmentExecutive.com, "NASA Scientist Avoids Jail in Procurement Case," Robert Brodsky, by 12/1/09

• Washington Examiner, "Former NASA Climate Scientist Pleads Guilty to Contract Fraud," by Bill Myers, 12/2/09

photo above Courtesy photo from Washington Examiner, NASA scientist Mark Schoeberl. via WUWT

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