Finally, Schmitz's son, Phillip J. Schmitz, has a business relationship with a group tied to Von Steuben. Schmitz, who runs a technology firm, provides web-hosting services for the World Security Network, a nonprofit news service focused on peace and conflict issues. Von Steuben serves on the network's advisory board.
Hubertus Hoffmann, a German businessman who founded the network, said Von Steuben played no role in assigning the contract to Phillip Schmitz, who is paid a "modest sum" for his work. Schmitz said he first made contact with Hoffmann through his father but that he had never met Von Steuben.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Friday September 30, 2005 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 0 inches; 28 words Type of Material: Correction
Pentagon watchdog -- An article in Sunday's Section A about former Inspector General Joseph E. Schmitz misspelled the first name of his son, Philip J. Schmitz, as Phillip.
The relationships troubled many at the Pentagon.
"He was consumed with all things German and all things Von Steuben," said the former Defense official, who did not want to be identified because of the ongoing inquiries. "He was obsessed."
At Grassley's request, the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency, the inspector general oversight body, is reviewing two occasions when Schmitz accepted gifts, one involving plane tickets on Asiana Airlines and a second when he accepted baseball tickets to a Washington Nationals game.
On both occasions, Schmitz said that he had had the gifts approved by an ethics officer.
Still, Grassley said the gifts raised concerns.
"As the watchdog of our federal agencies, inspectors general must be held to a higher standard," Grassley said in a statement. "They must always set an example of excellence and must be beyond reproach."
