whistleblowers

Foreign Service Officer harassed for writing book critical of Iraq reconstruction

After publishing a book criticizing U.S. reconstruction projects in Iraq, Foreign Service Officer Peter Van Buren had his security clearance suspended, his Diplomatic Passport lifted, forced to go on leave and lost his access to his State Department computer. The State Department also admits that they are monitoring his private blogs, Tweets and Facebook comments. -db From a commentary in Salon, April 12, 2012, by Jesselyn Radack. Full story  

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Former CIA officer indicted for leaking classified information about Guantanamo interrogations

A former CIA agent has been charged with violating the Espionage Act by leaking classified information on the Guantanamo interrogations to reporters. Ex-CIA agent John Kiriakou worked for the CIA from 1990 to 2004 and is among six government employees charged in recent years with violating the Espionage Act by talking to the media. -db From the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, April 13, 2012, by Andrea Papagianis. Full story    

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Opinion: Obama’s performance flawed on First Amendment issues

While pledging to become the most transparent government in history, the Obama administration has fallen far short of that lofty promise. They made some strides in releasing some files and documents  such as the torture memos but have been secretive about domestic spying. They have also been criticized for prosecuting whistleblowers under the Espionage Act and for denying lobbyists access to the administration on the stimulus bill’s allocations. -db From a commentary for the First

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Obama rates low on transparency

After making bold promises about making his administration the most transparent in history, Obama is looking at bad reviews particularly on granting Freedom of Information Act requests. The administration has also vigorously pursued the prosecution of leakers and whistleblowers and fumbled Obama’s open government initiative. -db From POLITICO, March 5, 2012, by Josh Gerstein. Full story

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Food and Drug Administration under fire for booting whistleblowers

Six scientists and physician are contending that the Food and Drug Administration retaliated against them for trying to warn Congress that medical devices were readied for approval without adequate safety reviews. Supervisors who disagreed with the whistleblowers approved all the devices. An editorial in The New York Times contended that the FDA managers responsible for such actions as interrupting e-mails to Congress or bringing criminal charges against whistleblowers should be held accountable.  -db From an

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