NRC watchdog: Jaczko 'bullied' staff, may have misled Congress

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's independent watchdog issued a scathing report Tuesday that accused outgoing Chairman Gregory Jaczko of bullying staff and possibly misleading Congress about his management style during a stormy tenure as the nation's chief nuclear safety official.

While Inspector General Hubert Bell concluded Jaczko's actions did not exceed his statutory powers or violate federal rules, the watchdog pointedly noted that the chairman's behavior was not consistent with the agency's safety mission or culture.

And Bell noted the NRC chairman gave testimony to Congress last December on internal strife at the commission that was "inconsistent" with interviews the IG staff conducted with officials afterwards.