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

The U.S. Justice Department announced that it is suing First Choice Armor over its marketing of Zylon-based bullet-proof vests that the company knew would break down in heat or humidity. The suit follows disclosures by Dr. Aaron Westrick, a researcher for another manufacturer, who first opposed the use of Zylon for body protection.  Based on his disclosures, Zylon-based armor is now off the market, and officers lives have been saved.  Dr. Westrick was fired.

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Bunny Greenhouse and her attorney, Michael D. Kohn, will be interviewed by television anchor Beverly Kirk on Federal News Tonight on News Channel 8 tonight at 7:30 pm EST.  We are happy that Federal News Tonight has taken an interest in Ms. Greenhouse's story and the need for stronger whistleblower protection.  Please click here to view a LIVE feed of the interview beginning at 7:30.  We will post a video of the interview tomorrow.

You can help Ms. Greenhouse in her fight for stronger whistleblower protection by contacting Congress and President Obama.

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Last week Bunny Greenhouse testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in support of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act - H.R. 1507.   Although Bunny was removed from her Senior Executive Service position following her initial Congressional testimony about Halliburton no-bid contracts, she courageously returned to Capitol Hill because she believes that "all employees should be protected from retaliation for reporting waste, fraud and abuse."  Incredibly the Army Corps has once again retaliated against Bunny for exposing the truth.  Within hours of delivering her testimony, Bunny received an email from the Army Corps' Chief of Staff stating that all future testimony before Congress must be submitted for pre-approval by the Army Corps. In response to this unconstituional directive, Bunny has issued a new letter to the American people.  In the letter Bunny asks all Americans to take action to protect federal employees by demanding immediate passage of H.R. 1507.

"When the United States orders its employees to submit to censorship when they are exercising their constitutional right to 'petition Congress for redress of grievances,' it is time to fight back!"  

Click here to read Bunny's new letter and take action now.

Click here to read the National Whistleblowers Center's letter to President Obama concerning the retaliation against Bunny Greenhouse

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Washington Post reporter Al Kamen writes in today's "In The Loop" column about an FBI diversity promotion.  Kamen looked at the FBI's web page to promote its American Indian/Alaskan Native Program.  The program seeks to "Eliminate discriminatory practices," increase representation in key occupational positions (including the Senior Executive Service, SES), and "to increase opportunities for all employees to advance to their highest potential."

Kamen notices that the photo on the FBI's web page is of Elizabeth Morris, a former FBI special agent who alleges that the FBI retaliated against her after she filed a complaint of workplace bias. "Morris," Kamen reports, "says she was fired in 2007 for filing a complaint against a supervisor for making racially insensitive remarks and for alleging that another agent sent subpoenas to dozens of businesses not under investigation with no intent of reviewing the records."  Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has asked the Justice Department to report back about this.

If the FBI really wants to promote diversity, it could be looking within its own ranks for minority employees who could qualify for promotion.  Bassem Youssef is another example.  He is the FBI's highest ranking Arabic-fluent special agent.  Yet, the FBI sidelined him for five years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.   In July 2006, the Department of Justice’s Office of Professional Responsibility concluded that the FBI illegally retaliated against Mr. Youssef because Mr. Youssef had made whistleblower disclosures to the Director of the FBI and a Member of Congress.

The FBI failed to promote Mr. Youssef to appropriate operational positions where the FBI as well as the nation would benefit from his exceptional and unique counterterrorism experience, Middle Eastern cultural understanding and Arabic language capability.

If the FBI is really serious about building a more diverse workforce, it must first admit that there's a gap and a problem that needs to be addressed. The FBI must protect its minority employees from retaliation. The FBI needs to allow independent reviews of its pending claims of retaliation, restore the careers of the affected minorities and take effective action against officials who retaliate.  

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On February 19th DC fire investigators Greg Bowyer and Gerald Pennington filed a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit against the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services ("DCFEMS") and Fire Chief Dennis Rubin in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.  The suit alleges that they were retaliated against for reporting the Department's mishandling of fire investigations.  You can read a press release on the lawsuit  here.

We support the couragous actions of Mr. Bowyer and Mr. Pennington who did the right thing by refusing to cover up investigations. Join us in applauding these heroes and check back here for more information on this case!

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