But Levin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has publicly questioned Laufman’s independence. And Levin’s staff director confirms that the senator has helped stall any action on the nomination at least until November, when the lame-duck congressional session begins.

Good on ya, Senator Levin!

By Jim Popkin
Senior Investigative Producer, NBC News Investigative Unit
Updated: 4:01 p.m. ET Sept 29, 2006
WASHINGTON - Contractor overbilling. Detainee abuses. Flagrant government corruption.

There’s no shortage of work these days for the Pentagon’s inspector general, the Department of Defense watchdog who oversees the Pentagon and its massive budget. And yet the position — one of the most important oversight jobs in all of federal government — has gone vacant for more than a year.

Now, sources tell NBC News, bureaucratic in-fighting and resistance from a prominent U.S. senator have stalled and possibly scuttled the confirmation of a hard-charging prosecutor who was nominated months ago for the top job.

Read more at MSNBC