Legal Times: DC Circuit Weighs US Citizen’s Torture Case Against Rumsfeld
Summary: A federal court in Washington is currently deciding whether a torture suit against former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld can proceed. The suit has been brought by GAP and another firm (Loevy & Loevy) on behalf of an American citizen, our client, who worked as a contractor in Iraq. The contractor alleged he was kidnapped by US military personnel, taken to the infamous Camp Cropper prison, and tortured.
Key Quote: Jesselyn Radack of the Government Accountability Project, which advocates for whistleblowers, also represents the plaintiff. [L&L's] Kanovitz and Radack described the plaintiff in court papers as a "loyal American citizen who served his country courageously and honorably as a civilian during the war in Iraq."
BP, GAP’s Back-and-Forth on Resource Manual Warning of Safety Risks
Summary: GAP and the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN) have been working with a number of BP whistleblowers concerning public health and safety threats. In a letter to the BP American Ombudsman Program, GAP and LEAN asked about the discrepancies between BP’s own safety manual (detailing the health risks of exposure to the oil and the toxic dispersant) and BP’s public reassurances of safety. GAP released the manual earlier this month after obtaining it from an anonymous whistleblower.
Corporate Ag Gag Supporters Donated to Iowa Legislator Campaigns
Summary: Iowa Senator Joe Seng, key sponsor of the state's Ag Gag bill, and Governor Terry Branstad who signed it into law, received significant campaign contributions from agriculture industry groups in favor of the legislation. The law is aimed at whistleblowers who use undercover video to expose wrongdoing. GAP's Food Integrity Campaign has the details.
McClatchy Newspapers: Army Threatens to Fire Whistleblower for Talking to McClatchy
Summary: The Army’s crime lab, which has been the subject of harsh criticism in recent months, is attempting to fire the whistleblower who has spotlighted many of its problems (including losing evidence and employee misconduct, among others). The lab sent the whistleblower a memo of its intentions to fire him.
Key Quote: "The Army is looking for a scapegoat to blame for the recent adverse media reports," [the whistleblower’s attorney] said.
Associated Press: Government Whistleblower Bill Advances in House
Summary: A new whistleblower bill has passed the Kentucky House and now goes to the state Senate for consideration. The bill would allow the possibility for whistleblowers to receive financial incentives for reporting incidents of state tax dollars being misused.
Dominion Post (New Zealand): ACC Whistleblower Friends with Former Minister
Summary: It was recently revealed that the Accident Compensation Corporation minister in New Zealand was a friend of an ACC whistleblower who revealed a massive privacy breach when she was inadvertently emailed detailed information on hundreds of cases – including sensitive sexual abuse cases. The minister sent a letter in support of the whistleblower, but insists he did not use his position to influence the company.
Hannah Johnson is Communications Associate for the Government Accountability Project, the nation's leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.
