Whistleblower Protection Blog : Whistleblower Lawyer & Attorney : National Whistleblower Legal Defense and Education Fund : Whistleblower Protection, Fraud Claims : Washington DC

Our call to Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to oust her newly appointed director of the EPA's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is gaining new media attention.

Today, the Black Agenda Report ran an article I wrote about the civil rights problems at EPA. This article is also now linked by the Coalition for Change.

Also, I appeared as a guest today on KBOO's Talk Radio with Lisa Loving in Portland, Oregon.  KBOO promotes this show saying:

Marsha Coleman Adebayo has protested racism within the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Civil Rights -- can you believe it? -- and finally the agency says it's investigating. Have you ever tried to draw attention to a big, bad situation in your workplace? Whistleblowers--how they impact your life and what they risk in coming forward. My guest this morning on Kboo 90.7 FM is Richard Renner, legal director of the National Whistleblowers Center. That's Wednesday morning at 8 am on kboo.fm, Portland.

This episode is now available as an mp3 file through KBOO's podcast. The talk show format gave me an opportunity to talk about many of NWC's activities, and our new book, The Whistleblower's Handbook. Notice in the final quarter of the call-in show how I confused Bradley Manning with Bradley Birkenfeld.

Hopefully, this growing public attention to an OCR director who does the opposite of civil rights will prompt EPA leadership to respond positively to our call, and soon.

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POLITICO reporter Robin Bravender released a story on Friday saying that EPA spokesperson Brendan Gilfillan promised that EPA would "look into" the allegations of the open letter the National Whistleblowers Center released last week. Gilfillan told Bravender that Jackson is “deeply committed to issues of environmental justice, civil rights and a healthy workplace for all.” NWC's open letter alleges that Rafael DeLeon, director of EPA's Office of Civil Rights, made a series of offensive remarks. These remarks called Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo and Susan Morris "pink elephants." Bravender reports that this term "was popularized by Sarah Palin, who used it to refer to a stampede of women outraged about policies in Washington." NWC also alleges that DeLeon said Dr. Coleman-Adebayo  held herself out like the "Rosa Parks of EPA," and that he referred to a lapdance at an office party.

Dr. Coleman-Adebayo is an environmental whistleblower who raised concerns about the dangers of vanadium mining in South Africa. When her concerns focused on the role of U.S. companies in apartheid South Africa she became the victim of a hostile work environment. Ms. Morris raised concerns about EPA’s compliance with the Civil Rights Act and then suffered a removal from her supervisory position.

Bravender interviewed Dr. Coleman-Adebayo about her experience working for DeLeon. Dr. Coleman-Adebayo reported that her transfer to DeLeon's office was essential a set up to be discharged.  Dr. Coleman-Adebayo is writing a book about her experiences at the EPA. Called, “No Fear: A Whistleblower's Triumph Over Corruption and Retaliation at the EPA,” it is due in September.

Bravender reports that when Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), released the Deloitte Consulting report which finds problems with OCR, she praised DeLeon for his "energy and experience." Jackson appointed DeLeon to direct OCR last December.

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On April 28^th, Stephen Kohn, Executive Director at the National Whistleblowers Center will host a seminar entitled "The NEW Corporate Whistleblower Protections and Reward Provisions" from 2:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. (CST) in Austin, Texas. The seminar is at the Radisson Hotel in Austin and is CLE-approved for Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

For two hours Mr. Kohn will host a tutorial on the new whistleblower provisions in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. 

Attorneys will have the opportunity to learn how to use the new laws to effectively represent employees, combat fraud, and qualify for large whistleblower rewards.  Click here for more information and to sign up online.

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The National Whistleblowers Center received a generous donation of front row tickets to thirteen Washington Nationals games. The view from these seats is truly amazing. If you don’t believe me, just look at the pictures below.

The NWC is selling the tickets for face value on StubHub.com. The tickets can be bought in groups of 2 or 4. All proceeds benefit the National Whistleblowers Center.

To order tickets click the link to purchase in the chart below and search for Section RF Baseline Box 134. If you have any questions on ordering the tickets please contact Lindsey Williams at 202-342-1903 or lmw@whistleblowers.org

Games Available:

SECTION RF Baseline Box 134     Row A      Seats 41,42,43,44

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On Sunday April 10, 2011, Stephen Kohn, Executive Director at the National Whistleblowers Center, will be available at 5:00 pm (EST) for an online chat forum at Firedoglake’s Book Salon. The topic of this book salon will be The Whistleblower’s Handbook.

For two hours Mr. Kohn will be holding an open discussion on The Whistleblower’s Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Doing What’s Right and Protecting Yourself (Lyons Press 2011).

Everyone will have the opportunity to post questions and comments regarding The Whistleblower’s Handbook as well as any whistleblowing issues. Mr. Kohn will provide real-time responses during the two-hour time frame.

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Fourteen whistleblowers hosted a book signing party last night for Stephen Kohn's new book, The Whistleblower's Handbook. Pictured here are:  Jane Turner, Jim Murtagh, Bunnatine "Bunny" Greenhouse, Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, Bill Sanjour, Russell Tice, Kiki Ikossi, Jim Bobreski, Dr. David L. Lewis, Tom Hunter, Linda Tripp, Marita Murphy, Dr. Frederic Whitehurst, and Bassem Youssef.

You can still buy The Whistleblower's Handbook for $16.95, plus shipping and handling. More pictures follow in the continuation of this blog entry.

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