Press Releases

Coalition Petitions SEC to Ban Corporate Tactics Used to Silence Whistleblowers

Make-It-Safe Coalition Commends Passage

Today, the Government Accountability Project (GAP) praised Representative Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) for her sponsorship of an anti-gag amendment that was adopted yesterday by the House of Representatives without opposition. The measure, which bans spending to silence Department of Energy (DOE) contractors who report wrongdoing, is part of the appropriations law that funds DOE – the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2015.

(Washington, DC) – On Friday, June 27, the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) in Vienna announced oral verdicts in two whistleblower cases, but delayed the release of their judgment in the appeal of Government Accountability Project (GAP) client James Wasserstrom, a former senior staff member at the U.N. Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). The judges did not provide a specific date for the release of their ruling in that case, leaving Wasserstrom in judicial limbo after seven years of seeking relief from retaliation for reporting corruption.

(Washington, DC) – This Friday, June 27, the judges of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) will announce the judgments of cases heard during the current session. These outcomes will include the final decisions in the case of Government Accountability Project (GAP) client James Wasserstrom, a former U.N. Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) employee. Also announced will be the outcomes in the cases of Caroline Hunt-Matthes, a former senior investigation officer with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and Khalilur Rahman, a former U.N.

Legislation to Create First Enforceable Statutory Whistleblower Rights for Intelligence Agency Employees;
Campaign to Restore Rights for Intelligence Contractors is Next

(Washington, DC) – Yesterday, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the First Amendment protects public employee whistleblowers from retaliation when they make truthful statements while giving compelled testimony. This decision in the case of Lane v. Franks has positive ramifications for future whistleblowers and the U.S. legal system, which cannot function unless witnesses have the right to answer questions about corrupt activities without fear of retaliation.

(Washington, DC) – Beginning yesterday, June 16, and lasting through June 27, the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) is reviewing three important cases that could substantially impact the rights of U.N. whistleblowers. The cases to be heard include those of Caroline Hunt-Matthes, a former senior investigation officer with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); Khalilur Rahman, a former U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) employee; and James Wasserstrom, a former U.N. Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) employee.

Whistleblower Groups Praise "First Step Toward a Safe Alternative to Leaks for Potential Whistleblowers"

(Washington, DC) – Next Thursday, June 19, the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) will hold an open hearing on the whistleblower retaliation case of James Wasserstrom.