Written by: Beck

An unreported conflict of interest in the Volcker Commission investigating the United Nations Oil-for-Food scandal is raising some eyebrows. It would seem that the name of Kofi Annan's number two subordinate--Louise Frechette--was omitted from the interim report. Frechette has a 30 year working relationship with Volcker commission executive director Reid Morden.

Committee officials admit that Morden discussed working on the U.N.-commissioned investigation with Frechette before he took the job with Volcker but they insist the friendship has not influenced Volcker's work at all and that the investigation is being conducted in a thorough and impartial manner.

But in the interim report released by the Volcker commission last month, which highlighted abuses and mismanagement of the Oil-for-Food program, Frechette is treated discreetly. Her name is nowhere to be found--the report mentions only her job title--even when declaring that she stopped U.N. auditors from telling the U.N. Security Council about Oil-for-Food irregularities. That detail can be found on page 186 of the 219-page interim report. She later claimed she was just following U.N. rules.

I had high hopes when I originally heard that Paul Volcker would be heading the investigation. He has an impeccable reputation. My one great fear was that he would be thwarted by internal resistance to the investigation. Let's hope the spotlight stays on this issue, and none of the guilty manage to suborn the process.

(Hat tip: Instapundit)