Fresh Air

The Battle For Honest And Accountable Government

Oct 17, 2024
Glenn Fine, a former Inspector General with a history of tackling corruption in the Justice and Defense Departments, shares riveting stories of his investigations into notable cases like the Oklahoma bombing and Guantanamo detainee treatment. He emphasizes the need for independent oversight in government, particularly how the 'Fat Leonard' scandal exposes severe accountability failures. Maureen Corrigan also critiques Alia Trabuco-Zeran's novel 'Clean', exploring class struggles and societal neglect through the lens of a housemaid's challenges in a wealthy household.
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ANECDOTE

Fixed Game

  • Glenn Fine, while co-captain of the Harvard basketball team, played a pivotal game against Boston College.
  • Later, he discovered the game was fixed by mobsters depicted in the movie Goodfellas.
ANECDOTE

Hanssen Investigation

  • Early in his career, Glenn Fine investigated Robert Hanssen, the most damaging spy in FBI history.
  • Hanssen, an FBI agent, spied for the Soviets/Russians for over two decades, compromising key intelligence assets.
INSIGHT

FBI Security Failures

  • Hanssen's espionage was not due to brilliance but rather the FBI's weak internal security.
  • Red flags like large cash deposits and unauthorized computer access were ignored, enabling his continued spying.
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