Washington, DC September 13, 2004: The Department of Defense Inspector General's Office (DOD IG) has responded the May 6, 2004, request of the National Whistleblowers Center to immediately take appropriate action to protect Army Specialist Joseph M. Darby, the soldier who disclosed the photographs documenting prisoner abuse in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

The NWC also had also requested that members of the armed forces be immediately informed of the protections afforded to them under the Armed Forces Protected Communications Act, 10 USC 1034.

The DOD IG responded to the NWC's request via a letter stating the protections and procedures the DOD has in place for whistleblowers.

• DoD IG Letter to NWC
• Leahy-Grassley letter to Secretary Rumsfeld