Washington, DC, March 19, 2007.  In response to the Department of Justice Inspector General  report on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (“FBI”) improper use of National Security Letters (“NSL”), the President of the National Whistleblowers Center (and an attorney for Mr. Bassem Youssef) issued the following statement:

Bassem Youssef did the right thing by reporting NSL violations to his managers and fully cooperating with the Inspector General’s investigation.  He is a loyal public servant who has put his loyalty to the U.S. Constitution and national security above his own career.  He has paid a price.  It is time for the FBI to stop its retaliation of Mr. Youssef.

The Sunday Washington Post and Monday New York Times published articles briefly describing Mr. Youssef’s role in reporting the NSL violations these articles are posted below:

Amid Concerns, FBI Lapses Went On
By R. Jeffrey Smith and John Solomon
Washington Post, March 18, 2007