Drill here, drill now: Sex, drugs, money, and oil

There are new allegations of scandal against U.S. Department of the Interior government employees. A report discloses that Interior Department workers engaged in fraternizing, unethical behavior, drug use, and sexual relationships with industry workers described as promiscuous. These accusations aren’t surprising for a government under George W. Bush, which has been too close to corporations. From the New York Times, United States:

[T]he Interior Department agency that collects oil and gas royalties has been caught up in a wide-ranging ethics scandal — including allegations of financial self-dealing, accepting gifts from energy companies, cocaine use and sexual misconduct.

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The reports portray a dysfunctional organization that has been riddled with conflicts of interest, unprofessional behavior and a free-for-all atmosphere for much of the Bush administration’s watch.

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Two other reports focus on “a culture of substance abuse and promiscuity” and unethical behavior in the service’s royalty-in-kind program. That part of the agency collects about $4 billion a year in the form of oil and gas rather than cash royalties.

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The investigation also concluded that several of the officials “frequently consumed alcohol at industry functions, had used cocaine and marijuana, and had sexual relationships with oil and gas company representatives.”