Democracy Protection Initiative
Government Accountability Project’s nonpartisan Democracy Protection Initiative supports and protects employees who choose to blow the whistle on illegality and abuses of power aimed at undermining elections, sabotaging the peaceful transition of power, and threatening democracy through politicization and the spread of disinformation.
Through legal representation, Know Your Rights trainings for workers and democracy stakeholders, and advocacy for stronger legal protections for whistleblowers, the Democracy Protection Initiative harnesses the power of whistleblowers’ verified disclosures to galvanize accountability by using the very mechanisms of democracy to protect itself: litigation and the exercise of legal rights, agency investigations, legislative oversight, the press, civil society organizations and an informed citizenry.
Whistleblowers–employees of conscience who speak out about corruption and abuses of power—are vital defenders of our representative democracy. Democracy Protection Initiative (DPI) is here to help.
Protecting Democracy Requires the Truth
Government Accountability Project has offered assistance to thousands of whistleblowers since our founding over 40 years ago. Driven by their belief in justice, individuals from every sector have blown the whistle to protect democracy from corruption and abuse of power.
Government Accountability Project offers pro bono legal and strategic advice and support to employees considering reporting, or who have already reported, misconduct.
Seek confidential legal assistance by filling out our secure intake form.
Democracy Whistleblower Profiles
Whistleblowers play an essential role in the environmental movement and in shaping public policy and corporate practices.
John Elias
John Elias John Elias, the former acting Chief of Staff to the Head of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, blew the whistle on politically motivated investigations ordered by Attorney General William Barr. Elias reported that cases pursued “centered not on an antitrust analysis,” but due to the attorney general’s “personal dislike” and political differences with particular companies and industries. Related News
Ukraine Whistleblower
Ukraine Whistleblower On August 12, 2019, the anonymous “Ukraine Whistleblower” filed a complaint detailing the months-long effort by President Donald Trump and his lawyer Rudy Guiliani to influence the 2020 election by pressuring Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden, Trump’s main political rival in the 2020 election, and his son Hunter Biden. The complaint offered details of the July 25th, 2019 phone call between Trump and Zelensky and subsequent attempts by the White House to cover up the records and implications of the call. Related News [...]
Anika Collier Navaroli
Anika Collier Navaroli Anika Navaroli, former senior policy expert for Twitter’s safety team, testified during public hearings of the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack regarding Twitter’s refusal to remove content fomenting and then foreseeably culminating in the violent January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Navaroli was awarded the Ridenhour Prize, which “recognizes those who persevere in acts of truth-telling that protect the public interest.” Related News
Maria Yovanovitch
Maria Yovanovitch In November 2019, Maria Yovanovitch, former United States Ambassador to Ukraine, testified at former President Trump’s first impeachment hearing. She noted that Trump removed her from the position on the basis of false claims provided by associates of Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani, who at the time was attempting to persuade the Ukranian government into investigating Trump’s political rivals, the Biden family. Related News
Grant Turner
Grant Turner In 2020, Grant Turner, former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), along with fellow executives and impacted employees, stepped forward as whistleblowers to report abuses by political operatives installed at Voice of America, its sibling networks, and its oversight agency USAGM. While by law these networks must report news independently without government interference, the Office of Special Counsel in May 2023 issued a 145-page report finding that former President Trump violated this mandate and USAGM CEO Michael Pack repeatedly “took actions that were inconsistent with the statutory mandate that he respect the networks’ journalistic [...]
News
Read the latest press statements and releases and media coverage about the Democracy Protection Initiative and Government Accountability Project’s work supporting democracy whistleblowers.
Viewpoint: Whistleblowers are Democracy’s Last Defense
When brave individuals speak up against wrongdoing, they can mitigate the damage and prevent further harm.
Whistleblowers Risk Everything—Lawmakers Must Protect Them
Two pivotal pieces of legislation pending before Congress would strengthen weak whistleblower protection laws.