Dispute over Whistleblower Access to Federal Court Intensifies

Washington, D.C. September 3, 2009.  As reported in a front-page story of today's Washington Times, internationally respected whistleblower, Bunnatine (Bunny) H. Greenhouse, has issued an appeal to the U.S. Senate to pass strong protections for all federal employees. Mrs. Greenhouse was the only major Bush Administration executive to challenge the Halliburton "no bid" Iraq reconstruction contracts.

Washington, D.C. August 26, 2009.  Yesterday the National Whistleblowers Center released the video of the August 8th deposition of national security whistleblower Sibel Edmonds.  Ms. Edmonds testified before the Ohio Elections Commission in response to a subpoena in the Schmidt v. Krikorian case.  Despite efforts by both the Department of Justice and the FBI to prevent her deposition, Ms. Edmonds was allowed to testify freely. (View Video Deposition)

National Whistleblowers Center Concerned That The Treatment of Mr. Birkenfeld Will Discourage Future Whistleblowers

Washington, D.C. August 21, 2009.  Today whistleblower Bradley C. Birkenfeld was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison for assisting a client at UBS to evade taxes.  Mr. Birkenfeld on his own initiative blew the whistle on UBS, Switzerland's largest bank.  His disclosure and cooperation with U.S. authorities provided inside information into the bank's conduct and began the dismantling of the historic secrecy of Swiss banks.  In fact by blowing the whistle, Mr. Birkenfeld's disclosure directly led to a ground-breaking legal settlement in which UBS agreed to pay $780 million in fines and UBS and the Swiss Government have agreed to turn over the names of thousands of Americans suspected of tax evasion.

  For media coverage and background information on Bradley Birkenfeld click here.

 

National Whistleblowers Legal Defense and Education Fund Contests FBI and Department of Justice Attempts to Silence Whistleblower

Washington, D.C. August 7, 2009.  Today the National Whistleblower Legal Defense and Education Fund fought efforts by the FBI and the Department of Justice to prevent Sibel D. Edmonds from testifying in a case of alleged election fraud. Sibel Edmonds is scheduled to testify before the Ohio Elections Commission in response to a subpoena in the Schmidt v. Krikorian case.  Both the Department of Justice and the FBI are attempting to halt her from testifying.  

The Senate will be marking up its version of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009 (S. 372) this Wednesday.  Now is the time to contact your Senators and President Obama and ask them to support adding jury trials for all federal employees, including national security employees.

Take Action! Demand Court Access for All Federal Employees!

National Whistleblowers Center Calls for Immediate Review of Lame Duck MSPB Appointees

Washington, D.C. June 24, 2009.   On June 22, 2009, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) issued a long awaited ruling in Robert J. MacLean v. Department of Homeland Security Agency.  Mr. MacLean blew the whistle on the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Agency (TSA) plan to improperly remove U.S. Air Marshals from long distance flights during a heightened terrorist alert.  Mr. MacLean was concerned that the TSA's plan posed a serious threat to public health and safety.  After Mr. MacLean's internal warnings were ignored, he made a public disclosure that was protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act.  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) subsequently fired Mr. MacLean in flagrant violation of the law.  However, in order to win their case, DHS retroactively labeled his disclosure as Sensitive Security Information. The MSPB declined to review this retroactive relabeling and upheld Mr. MacLean's termination.

Stephen M. Kohn, Executive Director of the National Whistleblowers Center issued the following statement:

Federal Employees Still Denied Coverage
 

Washington, D.C. February 13, 2009.  In the final stimulus package approved by House-Senate conference, Congress approved a critical whistleblower protection amendment introduced by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO).  The McCaskill amendment corrected major defects in the original Senate Bill, and provides protections for private contractors and state and local government workers who blow the whistle on waste, fraud, and abuse in stimulus spending.

Washington, D.C. February 9, 2009.  Bunnatine ("Bunny") H. Greenhouse, the highest ranking procurement official to oppose the no-bid, cost plus contracts to Halliburton for the  reconstruction of Iraq, weighed in on the need for Congress to include real whistlebower protections as part of the stimulus-bailout bill (read her letter).

Protections in Stimulus Bill Help Workers Hold Government Accountable

A Joint Statement from a Coalition of Public Interest Groups

Washington, D.C. February 3, 2009. Monday's Washington Post editorial, "Wrong Way to Protect," did a disservice to its readers and the taxpayers when it opposed provisions in the economic stimulus bill that are designed to empower federal whistleblowers.

Key Privacy Protections Improperly Challenged

Washington, D.C. January 15, 2009. The National Whistleblowers Center strongly opposes the lawsuit filed today by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Government Accountability Project, and OMB Watch concerning the constitutionality of the sealing provisions of the False Claims Act.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.