Back in may we reported how Tomlinson ramped up his efforts to root out all liberalism at PBS. He fired the CEO, Cathleen Cox, and started tracking the polital leanings on broadcasted programs, specifically the Bill Moyers.

Turns out the entire nation is not asleep and this got the attention of the inspector general. The inspector general’s report is expected to say Tomlinson violated the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, which established the relationship between CPB and PBS, in trying to subvert the independence of public radio and TV.

The CPB is prohibited from producing, distributing or scheduling shows. It was set up by Congress to be a firewall between public broadcasting and the federal government, to protect public broadcasting from political interference as PBS and National Public Radio received federal funds.

So what is illegal about what Tomlinson was doing? He authorized funds for the Moyers’ content study without board approval. He also pimped $5 million in underwriting (from Republican buddies and/or corporations no doubt) to place a conservative public affairs show on the PBS airwaves. He required PBS stations to carry the show.

Reps. David Obey, D-Wis., and John Dingell, D-Mich., sparked the investigation when they called last May for corporation Inspector General Kenneth A. Konz to look into reports that Tomlinson used questionable tactics and corporation funds to exert political influence over public broadcasting.