The Truth Fears Michael Horowitz

By Roy Snell
roy.snell@corporatecompliance.org

He will find the truth and he will report truth… whatever it is.

The United States Department of Justice Inspector General, Michael Horowitz, is about to release a report that may cause some people to become politically charged. I want to say something before his results are released, because my comments may be dismissed as biased after his results are released.

To be clear, I know Michael, but I have no idea what his report will say. I have never discussed anything related to this subject with him. I really haven’t even talked to him much since he became IG. And if you knew Michael like I know Michael, you would know that the idea that he would discuss an investigation before it was concluded is laughable. I do not even have a guess as to what the report will say or cover, and I really don’t care. I am more intrigued with the lesson we can all learn from Michael than whatever the results will be. The truth can be a bit elusive. The truth fears Michael Horowitz because he will find it and he will report it… whatever it is.

He will release the report on his investigation. He will go in front of Congress. They will listen to a balanced presentation of all the facts. They will grill him, and he will respond with crisp, sharp, and clear answers, because his answers will be based on the facts and solid evidence. People tend to ramble when they don’t have all the facts. Michael doesn’t ramble. They will find it very difficult to find fault with what he says, because what he says will be based on solid evidence and the facts.

Society is in turmoil right now. As Rolland, a character in the Stephen King Dark Tower story said, “We have forgotten the face of our fathers.” Edward Deming said, “Without data, you are just another person with an opinion.” After writing this article, I modified it to, “A compliance officer without the truth is just another person with an opinion.” We seem to think exaggerating is a more effective way to debate, rather than telling the whole truth. Truthful people tend not to exaggerate or leave out facts. This is why I want you to watch Michael. He will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

This will be a great case study about how an effective compliance and ethics officer conducts and reports an investigation. That is my point. If we can put our personal biases aside for a moment, we can all learn from Michael.

Michael has not forgotten the face of his father. As was the case when he investigated Operation Fast and Furious, he will be thorough and tell the truth. Not just the truth that favors his cause, because he has no cause when conducting an investigation. He is a master investigator. He takes his time despite pressure from the outside to rush to judgment. He is well staffed, he doesn’t underreact, and he doesn’t over react.

He is not there to defend or prosecute anyone. He is there to tell the truth. And no one on this planet can stop Michael from telling the truth. Fast and Furious was the talk of the town, and then it wasn’t. What happened? Michael investigated it, released all the facts based on solid evidence, and made recommendations. The truth took all the politics out of the room that day. That is what compliance and ethics programs and officers do, they stop all the wailing and gnashing of teeth… with the truth.