Florida Ag-Gag Bill Dies in Both Houses
Summary: Proposed legislation in both houses of the Florida legislature – which would have criminalized whistleblowers who film undercover videos at food production facilities like farms – was killed on Wednesday. GAP's Food Integrity Campaign applauds the committee members who agreed to strike the "Ag Gag" language, explaining how this use of media provides an effective outlet for whistleblowers to hold agribusinesses accountable for wrongdoing.
CBS News: Gingrich, Romney Hit Each Other over Involvement in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Summary: At the Republican debate last night, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney called out former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich for his involvement with Freddie Mac, saying, “We should have had a whistleblower, not a horn tooter.” However, neither candidate has been clear on whether they support increased whistleblower protections.
Mahmoud Mohieldin and the Perfect Crime
Summary: GAP Executive Director and International Director Bea Edwards details the ongoing issues between international financial institutions and Egypt, especially in regards to former Egyptian Investment Minister (and current World Bank Managing Director) Mahmoud Mohieldin.
The New York Times: Get the Whistleblowers
Summary: Columnist Andrew Rosenthal is appalled that former CIA official John Kiriakou – a whistleblower who exposed the names of those who committed torture – is now being prosecuted under the Espionage Act and faces 30 years in prison for his actions, yet those who actually performed or authorized the torture face no repercussions.
Business Insider: A Vatican Whistleblower Was Transferred After Exposing Catholic Corruption
Summary: A former Vatican top official was allegedly unwillingly transferred to a post in Washington, DC after exposing corruption and nepotism within the city.
Montreal Gazette: Whistleblower Study – Amateur Hockey Referees Feel Threatened
Summary: A majority of Canadian amateur hockey referees who responded to a recent survey said they have felt threatened – verbally or physically – during games.
Asia Times: Victory for ‘Sunshine’ Policy Whistleblower
Summary: A South Korean whistleblower has succeeded in his bid not to be extradited back to Seoul from the US after eight years fighting it in immigration court. The whistleblower revealed the payoffs to North Korea leading up to the June 2000 North-South Korean summit and the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to the then-president of South Korea.
CNN: We’re Losing Control of our Digital Privacy
Summary: The Internet rallied last week to stop passage of the Stop Online Piracy Act (and the Senate equivalent) because of the danger it posed to the openness of the Internet. In this article, the author argues that this only a fraction of the various ways in which the federal government is infringing on our privacy rights through its expanding digital surveillance.
Hannah Johnson is Communications Associate for the Government Accountability Project, the nation's leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.
