A Department of Energy photographer fired for leaking photos of Secretary Rick Perry hugging the head of a coal mining company filed a complaint with the department’s inspector general for reinstatement under federal regulations protecting whisteblowers. (The New York Times, January 17, 2018, by Ben Protess)
Simon Edelman felt an obligation to bring to public notice the chummy relationship between Perry and coal mining executive, Robert E. Murray. At their meeting, Murray presented a memo to Perry with steps he wanted the government to take favorable to the coal industry. Edelman believed he was exposing corruption of a quid pro quo between Perry and Murray and should be afforded First Amendment protections. (The Hill, January 17, 2018, by Timothy Cama)