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(The following appeared on the USA Today’s website on August 6, 2009.)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The controversy over the departure of the Amtrak inspector general earlier this year continues to simmer. The Project on Government Oversight today released internal agency documents that show Amtrak wanted to fire its inspector general shortly before he unexpectedly resigned.

In a draft letter to Congress, Amtrak chairman Thomas Carper wrote that Fred Weiderhold “is no longer the effective Inspector General that our Company needs” and that he “will be removed from his position.” The June letter was never sent. Weiderhold retired later that month.

As USA TODAY’s Matt Kelley wrote last month, an independent report by a former federal prosecutor found that Amtrak officials interfered with the inspector general’s oversight of the agency’s stimulus funds. Amtrak has denied that it interfered with Weiderhold’s job.