How the FBI Silences Whistleblowers

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Tue Oct 16, 2018 3:13 pm

"The idea of “whistleblowing has been in the news a great deal.

Is the anonymous author of a recent New York Times op-ed eviscerating the president a whistleblower?

Is the victim of an alleged sexual assault by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh a whistleblower?

I’m fortunate to have access to the media to talk about torture after blowing the whistle on the CIA’s program. I think Ed Snowden, Tom Drake and others would say the same thing about the aftermath of their own whistleblowing.

Cost of Doing the Right Thing

The problem is that we are the exception to the rule. Most whistleblowers either suffer in anonymity or are personally, professionally, socially and financially ruined for speaking truth to power. Darin Jones is one of those people. He’s one of the people silenced in Barack Obama’s war on whistleblowers. And he continues to suffer under Donald Trump.

Jones was an FBI supervisory contract specialist who in 2012 reported evidence of serious procurement improprieties to his superior. Jones maintained that Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) had been awarded a $40 million contract improperly because a former FBI official with responsibility for granting the contract then was hired as a consultant at CSC. Jones said, rightly, that this was a violation of the Procurement Integrity Act. He made seven other disclosures alleging financial improprieties in the FBI, and he was promptly fired for his troubles.

Remember, the United States has a Whistleblower Protection Act. Any federal employee who brings to light evidence of waste, fraud, abuse, illegality, or threats to the public health or public safety is protected under federal statute."

https://consortiumnews.com/2018/10/16/h ... leblowers/

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Wed Oct 17, 2018 5:02 am

Well done on blowing the whistle - I had no idea!

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Oct 17, 2018 7:31 am

Corruption in every facet of the Government. How the hell do we fix it, or is it already too late?

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:57 am

That's the question.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 6:23 am

Oops. Hadn't realised you were quoting. Heh. Error not misplaced humour.

It seems every powerful organisation gets this way, both in the free and unfree world. The best solution I'm aware of is to open up the organisation to external scrutiny but that can bring its own problems: Who scrutinises? Regulators also rarely have sufficient teeth it seems, when it doesn't suit those in power.

Zenin000 · Post by **Zenin000** » Fri Apr 18, 2025 8:28 am

It’s clear that, despite laws protecting whistleblowers, they face serious risks and consequences when exposing wrongdoing. Darin Jones’ case is a strong example of how those who choose to speak the truth can end up paying a high price, including losing their job and reputation. As mentioned here, there are specialized lawyers who can offer legal protection to whistleblowers, especially in cases of abuse.

Post by **spot** » Fri Apr 18, 2025 10:41 am

Zenin000 wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 8:28 am It’s clear that, despite laws protecting whistleblowers, they face serious risks and consequences when exposing wrongdoing. Darin Jones’ case is a strong example of how those who choose to speak the truth can end up paying a high price, including losing their job and reputation. As mentioned here, there are specialized lawyers who can offer legal protection to whistleblowers, especially in cases of abuse.

And of course few such organizations include guaranteed procedures which would protect the informant. The present climate in the US isn't going to improve that soon, but there are still places where exemplary processes could be introduced and sympathetically tested at need.

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