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 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:

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).

Unit Chief discloses shortfalls in war on terror

Washington, D.C. May 22, 2008. FBI Counterterrorism Whistleblower Bassem Youssef testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on Wednesday, May 21, 2008.

Washington, D.C. March 10, 2008. Today the Department of Justice Inspector General’s office has released yet another report confirming that the highest ranking FBI counterterrorism officials violated the Patriot Act when authorizing warrantless searches of over 3000 phone numbers through the use of National Security Letters (“NSL”). These Letters, authorized under the Patriot Act, permit FBI managers to sign search warrants without judicial notification or approval.

Washington, DC, March 9, 2007. Today the Department of Justice Inspector General issued a report finding that the FBI has engaged in gross abuses of power in implementing searches without warrants, including electronic surveillance, in conjunction with the PATRIOT Act. The IG Report found that, among other things, FBI conducted hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of improper searches without warrants, including searches in case in which no authorized investigations even existed. The DOJ IG was assisted in its investigation by a whistleblower.

Washington, D.C. December 13, 2006.  The National Whistleblowers Center, a nationally recognized FBI Watchdog group, has released to the public extensive sworn and documentary evidence concerning the FBI’s actual response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. The documents include the sworn deposition of every major FBI manager responsible for the creation the FBI’s post September 11 counterterrorism division and the implementation of the FBI’s “War on Terror.”  Sworn depositions of Director Robert Mueller, former Director Louis Freeh and numerous executive assistant directors and assistant directors for the bureau’s counterterrorism program are included.