Wired: Politically Motivated Border Searches Could Be Unconstitutional, Judge Rules
Summary: David House, an outspoken supporter and friend of Bradley Manning had his belongings searched and some of his electronics seized after returning from a vacation in Mexico in 2010. The ACLU filed suit against the federal government with House, alleging his constitutional rights had been violated and the search-and-seizure was politically motivated. A federal judge has denied the government's motion to dismiss the case, allowing it to move forward.
Related Article: Boston Globe
CBS 2 New York: City Councilman Garodnick Proposes Enhanced Whistleblower Protections
Summary: A New York City councilman has proposed enhanced whistleblower protections that would cover non-city employees who are working under city contracts.
Key Quote: [The councilman] says passage of his bill would encourage workers to report corruption, criminal activity, misconduct, and conflicts of interest.
BofA/Countrywide Whistleblower Eileen Foster Wins Ridenhour Award
Summary: GAP client Eileen Foster, who revealed widespread mortgage fraud first at Countrywide and then Bank of America, has been awarded the 2012 Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling. This prize is widely considered the highest honor a whistleblower can receive. NSA whistleblower and GAP client Thomas Drake won the prize last year.
Summary: A Russian whistleblower has accused the investment czar for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of corruption. According to the whistleblower, millions of dollars have been transferred into the czar’s company accounts from those of other companies owned by a two different Russian billionaires.
BBC Business Daily: Rewarding Whistleblowers
Summary: The BBC looks at the whistleblower provisions in the US Dodd-Frank Act. A corporate whistleblower, and a lawyer who works on whistleblower issues, weigh in on the effects this can have and already has had in the UK.
Whistleblower Tour Stop at Mt. Holyoke Wrap-Up: Daniel Ellsberg, Jesselyn Radack, Thomas Drake
Summary: GAP’s American Whistleblower Tour concluded its penultimate 2011-2012 stop yesterday at Mount Holyoke. A packed auditorium heard the experiences of prominent whistleblowers Daniel Ellsberg (Pentagon Papers), Thomas Drake (NSA), and Jesselyn Radack (DOJ). The Tour has one more stop this year on April 24 at John Jay College, featuring noted NYPD whistleblower Frank Serpico.
Hannah Johnson is Communications Associate for the Government Accountability Project, the nation's leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.
