12 2 STA T .354 5 PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 323 — S E PT. 22 , 200 8‘ ‘ (4)inthep e rfo r ma n c eofthef u nction s assi g ne dby this section , obtain a l l information, documents, reports, ans w ers, records, accounts, papers, and other data and documentary e v idence from a person not in the U nited S tates G overnment or from a F ederal agency, to the same e x tent and in the same manner as the C omptroller General under the authority and procedures available to the Comptroller General in section 716 of this title
‘‘( 5 ) administer to or ta k e from any person an oath, affirma - tion, or affidavit, whenever necessary in the performance of the functions assigned by this section, which oath, affirmation, or affidavit when administered or taken by or before an employee of the O ffice of I nspector General designated by the Inspector General shall have the same force and effect as if administered or taken by or before an officer having a seal; ‘‘(6) have direct and prompt access to the Comptroller Gen- eral when necessary for any purpose pertaining to the perform- ance of functions and responsibilities under this section; ‘‘(7) report expeditiously to the A ttorney General whenever the Inspector General has reasonable grounds to believe there has been a violation of Federal criminal law; and ‘‘( 8 ) provide copies of all reports to the Audit Advisory Committee of the Government Accountability Office and provide such additional information in connection with such reports asisre q uested by the Committee . ‘‘(d) C OMPLAINTSBYE MPLOY E ES. — ‘‘(1) T he Inspector General— ‘‘(A) sub j ect to subparagraph ( B ), may receive, review, and investigate, as the Inspector General considers appro- priate, complaints or information from an employee of the Government Accountability Office concerning the possible existence of an activity constituting a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, mismanagement, or a gross waste of funds; and ‘‘(B) shall refer complaints or information concerning violations of personnel law, rules, or regulations to estab- lished investigative and adjudicative entities of the Govern- ment Accountability Office. ‘‘( 2 ) The Inspector General shall not, after receipt of a complaint or information from an employee, disclose the identity of the employee without the consent of the employee, unless the Inspector General determines such disclosure is unavoidable during the course of the investigation. ‘‘( 3 ) Any employee who has authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action, shall not, with respect to such authority, take or threaten to take any action against any employee as a reprisal for making a complaint or disclosing information to the Inspector General, unless the complaint was made or the information disclosed with the knowledge that it was false or with willful disregard for its truth or falsity. ‘‘(e) SEMIANN U AL R EPO R TS.—(1) The Inspector General shall submit semiannual reports summari z ing the activities of the Office of the Inspector General to the Comptroller General. Such reports shall include, but need not be limited to—
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