Courtesy of Flickr user savebradleyPBS NewsHour: In Manning Trial, Tracing WikiLeaks Files to Harm May Be ‘Extremely Complicated’
Summary: The pre-trial hearing of Bradley Manning, the soldier accused of giving classified documents to WikiLeaks, started last Friday. Manning’s defense asked the investigating officer (the equivalent of a judge) to recuse himself because of a potential conflict of interest, although that request has since been refused. The hearing is in its fourth day.
Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, a long supporter of Manning, talked to Democracy Now! about the trial.
Related Articles: Washington Post, Associated Press
Los Angeles Times: CVS Caremark to Pay $20 Million to Three States over Fraud Allegations
Summary: Major pharmacy company CVS Caremark will pay nearly $20 million to settle three lawsuits alleging that the company defrauded state pension systems in California, Illinois, and Florida. The whistleblower suits were filed by two former CVS pharmacists, claiming that the company was reselling returned drugs, changing prescriptions to be more expensive, and submitting false reports.
Reuters: Olympus Offices to be Raided this Week – Report
Summary: Tokyo police will likely launch a raid on the offices of Olympus Corp. this week “on suspicion the company falsified financial accounts.” The camera company revealed that it had been hiding profit losses through major acquisition payments after a former executive-turned-whistleblower started an investigation.
The Guardian (UK): Seven Judges to Hear Julian Assange Extradition Appeal
Summary: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s appeal against his extradition to Sweden is to be heard in February 2012 by UK Supreme Court judges.
London Evening Standard: Phone Hacking ‘Started at Sun Newspaper’
Summary: The brother of the deceased whistleblower who revealed the phone-hacking taking place at The Sun and News of the Worldhas come forward with emails showing that phone-hacking originated at The Sun before being used at News of the World.
Summary: Whistleblowers have revealed to media outlets that safety software monitoring major US oil pipelines allegedly contains “deliberate errors.” According to the source, whose team designed the software, the errors were made to fool the safety inspectors.
Hannah Johnson is Communications Associate for the Government Accountability Project, the nation's leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.
