CIA/Torture Whistleblower John Kiriakou Reports to Prison Today
CIA/Torture whistleblower and GAP client John Kiriakou begins serving his 30 month jail sentence today. Though he heads for incarceration, he is going to jail feeling optimistic, saying he wears his conviction as a "badge of honor." Kiriakou is the sixth person to be charged under the Espionage Act by the Obama administration, more than in all previous administrations combined. Yesterday, he spoke with CNN about his upcoming prison sentence.
The trial has been financially ruinous for Kiriakou, his wife and their five children. In a show of solidarity for the whistleblower, GAP has set up a John Kiriakou Support Fund.
GAP honored Kiriakou last month, just days before his sentencing, with an event in Washington DC.
Officials Caution Food Safety Risk Under Sequester; Concerns are Old News to USDA Whistleblower
GAP's Food Integrity Campaign Investigation & Outreach Coordinator Alyssa Doom blogs about federal officials' concerns regarding the impact the looming sequester could have on food safety. She asserts that these concerns are nothing new for USDA whistleblower Phyllis McKelvey, who has petitioned against the government's plan to reduce federal oversight at poultry processing plants.
The Telegraph: WikiLeaks – Bradley Manning to Defend Himself as Whistleblower in Court
Military whistleblower Bradley Manning goes to court today, is expected to take the stand, and has offered to plead guilty to some of the charges against him. The soldier has already released a lengthy statement outlining his hope that his disclosures would “spark a domestic debate on the role of our military in our foreign policy in general.”
Prosecutors still hope to prove that the information Manning shared with WikiLeaks will show a direct benefit to al-Qaeda. If convicted of this, Manning could face life imprisonment.
Related Articles: NPR, The Guardian, NBC
The Canberra Times: Whistleblowers Begin to Break Code of Silence
Some athletes from the Australian Football League have come forward to announce irregular practices in their clubs. The move comes after the league set up a whistleblower policy in response to its general culture of anti-transparency.
Associated Press: Ark. Lawmakers Approve Whistleblower Reward Bill
The Arkansas Legislature has approved a whistleblower bill that will allow state employees to receive cash rewards if they expose waste and inefficiencies for the benefit of the state. The bill has yet to be signed by the governor.
Jack Davis is Communications Associate for the Government Accountability Project, the nation's leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.
