ThinkAdvisor: House Dems Call for SEC Crackdown on Corporate Anti-Whistleblower Practices

Eight House Democrats encouraged Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairwoman Mary Jo White to enforce SEC regulations protecting corporate whistleblowers and address practices that discourage truth-tellers from reporting violations. Representatives expressed concern about reports of “overly restrictive nondisclosure agreements and other employment arrangements that serve to deter whistleblowers.”

These issues mirror the ones raised in GAP’s petition to Chairwoman Whiterequesting SEC protect corporate whistleblowers.

Related Article: MarketWatch


FireDogLake: Justice Department Rejects Key Reforms to FBI Whistleblower Regulations

The Justice Department has proposed reforms to the FBI’s whistleblower protection regulations, but it rejected several key recommendations. GAP National Security & Human Rights Director Jesselyn Radack explains how the system “is stacked against whistleblowers every step of the way” and individuals who challenge wrongdoing will still have a hard time finding justice.

Key Quote: Jesselyn Radack, a Justice Department whistleblower and director of National Security & Human Rights division at the Government Accountability Project (GAP), reacted, “The proposed reforms are better than the current state of affairs, but that’s not saying much. It should not have taken a Presidential Policy Directive and pressure from two committed senators for the Justice Department to realize this process was dysfunctional.”

“The changes rejected by the Justice Department are the hallmarks of due process: judicial review, a neutral judge, a right to a hearing, and production of witnesses,” Radack added.


New York Times: Rick Piltz Dies at 71; Quit Bush White House Over Climate Policy

Another moving article on the legacy of the late Rick Piltz. For a list of news coverage and more information on Piltz’ whistleblowing, visit GAP’s In Memoriam page.

Key Quote: In 2006, two liberal groups, the Fertel Foundation and the Nation Institute, which is affiliated with The Nation magazine, awarded Mr. Piltz their Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling. “Piltz was the first insider to expose how politics worked to undermine the integrity of the federal science program,” the citation said.

Mr. Piltz’s allies say he coined the term “climate denier” to describe those who disparage evidence of planetary warming. Whether he did or not, there is little doubt that in his testimony, blogs and interviews, he helped popularize it.


Federal News Radio: Mathew Tully, Founding Partner, Tully Rinckey PLLC

Coverage of the Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing on the case of air marshal whistleblower and GAP client Robert MacLean. Tully Rinckey law firm partner Matt Tully, who has filed a friend of the court brief in support of MacLean, discusses the case as well as the sweeping support for MacLean as the November 4th hearing nears.