Globe and Mail: SEC Whistleblower Rewards Provide a Powerful Incentive
This article details how the SEC Whistleblower Program, created by the Dodd-Frank Act, provides protections for financial whistleblowers that go far beyond those of other countries for similar workers. GAP client and whistleblower Eric Ben-Artzi – who came forward publicly in 2012 with evidence of multi-billion dollar securities violations at Deutsche Bank – is quoted in this piece.
To better protect future SEC whistleblowers, GAP, Labaton Sucharow and a coalition of organizations recently petitioned SEC Chair Mary Jo White, urging that the agency clarify and strengthen its Whistleblower Program by outlawing efforts to silence whistleblowers.
Key Quote: It’s never easy to be a whistleblower, but it’s especially difficult in the financial circles of Wall Street and Bay Street. The stakes are just too high.
Mr. Ben-Artzi has filed a wrongful dismissal suit against the bank to get his job back, alleging that he was unfairly dismissed. He’s also been looking for work elsewhere and for now is working as an adjunct college professor.
“Like other banking whistleblowers, finding employment on Wall Street has been difficult for me,” he said in a recent interview. “However, I believe there are companies out there sufficiently confident in the integrity of their operations to hire people like me.”
Pulitzer-Prize winner Glenn Greenwald penned this latest article based on the disclosures of NSA whistleblower and GAP client Edward Snowden. The disclosures provide evidence of the direct involvement of the U.S. government with Israeli military and intelligence agencies. The documents “illustrate a crucial fact: Israeli aggression would be impossible without the constant, lavish support and protection of the U.S. government.”
Whistleblower Summit For Civil & Human Rights Echoes King’s Call For Truth
This blog reflects how National Whistleblower Appreciation Day and the Whistleblower Summit for Civil & Human Rights, held last week, brought together a variety of whistleblowers, advocates and experts to collaborate on the impact of whistleblowing on professional and personal lives.
Another blog focuses on one of the topics discussed – financial whistleblower retaliation – and how GAP is spearheading a campaign with Labaton Sucharow to alert Congress to the dangers of retaliation by Corporate America.
The Register (Australia): NSA Leaker Thomas Drake Says Oz Security Reforms are ‘Scary’
In Melbourne last week, prominent NSA whistleblower Thomas Drake and GAP National Security & Human Rights Director Jesselyn Radack warned Australian citizens of looming security reforms that discourage whistleblowing and criminalize journalists who help whistleblowers disclose information.
Associated Press: NYC to Pay $1M to Settle Medicaid Probe
An investigation prompted by a whistleblower is nearing an end as federal authorities say New York City will settle to pay $1.05 million because of the mishandling of Medicaid payments by the city’s Human Resources Administration.
Bangor Daily News: Maine Firefighter Gets $16K for Whistleblower Lawsuit
Last week, a Maine community voted to settle a lawsuit filed under the Maine Whistleblowers’ Protection Act for $16,000. The whistleblower will remain captain of the fire department.
Michael Riley is a Communications Intern for the Government Accountability Project, the nation’s leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.