Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Issa to Billy Hoover: Don't retaliate against whistleblowers.

Jonathan Strong reports in The Daily Caller: "Issa warns ATF not to retaliate against whistleblowers."

House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa is warning the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF) not to retaliate against whistleblowers who contradicted initial blanket denials by the Justice Department over “Operation Fast and Furious” in testimony to Congress.

A June 21 letter from Issa to William Hoover, deputy director at ATF, lists a series of accounts from whistleblowers recounting fears they would face retaliation.

ATF agents testifying before the Oversight Committee at a June 15 said that retaliation was common at the agency for officials who did not toe the company line.

But a deputy for Attorney General Eric Holder said the Justice Department would never strike back at whistleblowers. “The Department of Justice will not, would never, retaliate against whistleblowers,” Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich said.

In his June 21 letter, Issa tells another story, recounting testimony from four agents saying ATF is “a very retaliatory agency,” in the words of an unnamed “Special Agent Number 3.”


PDF of letter.

Also, David Codrea's take.

5 comments:

Mickey Collins said...

“The Department of Justice will not, would never, retaliate against whistleblowers,” Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich said.


Guffaw!
And the department of Justice never knew anything about Fast and Furious until Grassley told them about it, right?

Mark Matis said...

What ELSE would one expect from FedPig?

Uncle Al said...

But a deputy for Attorney General Eric Holder said the Justice Department would never strike back at whistleblowers. “The Department of Justice will not, would never, retaliate against whistleblowers,” Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich said.

Yet another DOJ lie. Can you say "Tamarah Grimes" Mr. Weich?

Anonymous said...

I just want to express my appreciation for you staying on what is probably the biggest scandal and abuse of power by the executive branch in living memory. Especially when other blogs are spending so much time on useless drivel. Thanks a ton and stay on their butts. Eventually, when the embarrassment gets to critical mass, everybody else will fially understand the magnitude of this mess, and maybe do some serious coverage. Could be they are afraid, I suppose.... but if thats the case, they should get out of the serious news business altogether.

fgd-anchorage said...

'“The Department of Justice will not, would never, retaliate against whistleblowers,” Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich said.'

It is a really good omen when they not only provide grist for the mill but deliver to the door step.