GAP's Shanna Devine holds the petition for MRAP whistleblower Franz Gayl.4,000 Support MRAP Whistleblower in Petitions to Panetta
Summary: Over the past several months, GAP supporters have rallied behind Pentagon whistleblower Franz Gayl, calling on Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to demonstrate leadership by ending the retaliation against this pivotal truth-teller whose disclosures resulted in American troops' lives being saved. Gayl exposed the Marine Corps bureaucratic delay in shipping lifesaving equipment to soldiers in Iraq – including Mine Resistant Ambush Vehicles (MRAPs) and nonlethal crowd dispersers.
GAP and sister organization POGO, which developed its own petition, delivered the documents yesterday to Sec. Panetta with approximately 4,000 signatures combined.
Truth-Out.org: Why I Published US Intelligence Secrets about Israel’s Anti-Iran Campaign
Summary: This blog post details the events leading up to the federal prosecution of an FBI translator for leaking documents in an effort to stave off an attack on Iran by Israel or the United States.
Key Quote: I went public for two reasons: one was to expose Israel's propaganda campaign in this country against Iran. But just as importantly, I wanted Americans to know why Shamai Leibowitz did what he did. I wanted them to know that not only was he a whistleblower, a profile in courage, but that he is a person of conscience, who faced the full force of the US government during his prosecution. I wanted the world to know Shamai was a sacrificial victim who deserved to be honored rather than imprisoned
.…
Shamai's prosecution is part of an alarming, aggressive Obama administration pursuit of such whistleblowers - who have included James Sterling and Thomas Drake. Drake, in particular, just faced down the government and reached a plea deal in which he was legally vindicated. But he had to bankrupt himself to do so. Those civil liberties activists who hoped for more and better from this administration compared to the previous one have been disappointed. Shamai Leibowitz' prosecution is a black mark on the legacy of the Obama administration.
Main Justice: Senate Judiciary Panel Approves Plan to Protect Judiciary Whistleblowers
Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a plan that will provide enhanced whistleblower protections for government employees of the judicial branch. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) – a long-time champion of whistleblower rights – proposed it as an amendment to the Emergency Judicial Relief Act.
FoodNavigator.com: First Seizure of Food Under New Food Safety Law
Summary: Officials at the FDA have seized food products from a processing plant in Washington state after finding rodent and insect infestation at the facility. This is the first time the agency has utilized its new authority to seize potentially adulterated products under the Food Safety Modernization Act.
Palm Beach Post: Nursing Home Chain Target of Attorney General’s Inquiry
Summary: A Florida nursing home chain is the subject of investigation by the state Attorney General Office for fraudulent activities. A whistleblower suit was filed last year by a former human resources director who says he was fired for cooperating with the state.
Hannah Johnson is Communications Associate for the Government Accountability Project, the nation's leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.
