Clik here to view.
Whistle Suits (image: Truthout.org/flickr)
Dissenters’ Digest takes a look back at the week’s stories covering whistleblowers, watchdogs, and government accountability. Look for it every Saturday evening at www.mspbwatch.net/digest.
Federal Judge Strikes Down NDAA’s Indefinite Detention Provision: A federal judge in Brooklyn, New York struck down the indefinite detention provision of the National Defense Authorization Act, saying it constitutes an unconstitutional infringement on the First Amendment. The suit was brought by several journalists who feared their activities might fall under the reach of the law — substantially supporting al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated forces – without even knowing it, and facing indefinite detention for many years. The judge, Katherine Forrest, repeatedly offered government lawyers the opportunity to rebut the reporters’ fears, but they declined to do so.
Below the Fold:
–A Malaysian tribunal found George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfel, Alberto Gonzales, John Yoo, Jay Bybee, David Addington and William J. Haynes guilty of war crimes.
–The Washington Post editorial board calls on the Federal Aviation Administration to take whistleblowers’ complaints seriously.
–The ACLU is weighing in on behalf of Peter Van Buren, the State Department whistleblower who wrote a book and blog critical of his employer’s exploits in Iraq.
–A Homeland Security House subcommittee looks at corruption inside DHS.
–Employees at a nuclear waste site in Washington state are coming forward, saying too many shortcuts are being taken in the construction of a facility to dispose the waste.
–An FBI crime lab whistleblower’s 20 year campaign to expose and correct violations of defendants’ due process rights is beginning to bear fruit.
–House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa is alleging the Federal Maritime Commission may be “an agency in crisis.”
–Union protectionism in 1994 may haunt whistleblowers and the Office of Special Counsel in 2012.
–Several whistleblowers and advocacy groups will host an annual conference in Washington, D.C., May 21-23.
Send tips to tips@mspbwatch.net.
