Wall Street Journal: Whistleblowers Under Threat in Supreme Court Case, Lawmakers Warn
A bipartisan group of lawmakers are supporting the whistleblower case of GAP client Robert MacLean, the former federal air marshal whose case heads to the Supreme Court in November. He was fired after revealing that air marshals were going to be removed from long distance commercial flights to save money at the same time terrorists were threatening to target U.S. aircraft. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has also filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of MacLean. It will be the first Whistleblower Protection Act case in front of the Supreme Court.
Key Quote (Government Executive): Tom Devine, legal director of the nonprofit Government Accountability Project, said, “The OSC’s brief confirms that the issue in this case is the Whistleblower Protection Act’s survival as an independent check on agency secrecy rules, not merely justice for Mr. MacLean. We’re not surprised, because the OSC has not hesitated to use its amicus authority to defend the merit system.”
Related Articles: Examiner.com, Watchdog.org
Washington Post: Whistleblower Settles Case
More prominent coverage of the good news regarding GAP client and Marine Corps whistleblower Franz Gayl. He faced retaliation after making disclosures that ended delays in delivering lifesaving vehicles to Iraq and Afghanistan. Settlement of his retaliation case includes Gayl’s appointment to a panel that will help the Marines implement whistleblower protection policies.
Key Quote: “Gayl paid a nightmarish price for his MRAP disclosures, even though he was acting at the direction of America’s top field general in Iraq, who had been unable to secure delivery of the lifesaving vehicles for well over a year,” said a statement from the Government Accountability Project (GAP), which represents him.
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“In my experience, it is unprecedented to appoint a whistleblower to help any agency develop policy for whistleblower rights, let alone a military service,” [GAP Legal Director Tom] Devine said. “The Marines deserve credit where it is due. This victory would not have occurred without the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.”
Related Article: China Topix
Washington Post: VA Whistleblowers Win Settlements in Retaliation Cases
Three Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) whistleblowers won settlements this week in their retaliation cases after exposing wrongdoing at a Phoenix VA hospital. At least two of the agreements involve promotions, “signaling that the agency wants to reward employees who report bad practices.”
Washington Free Beacon: Transparency Groups Press White House on FOIA Delays
GAP and other government watchdog groups sent a letter to the White House asking the Obama administration to review its often delayed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.