Contact Nashville Whistleblower Attorney Timothy L. Milles Today if You Are Thinking of Blowing the Whistle
introduction
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) within the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is an independent entity established by law. Its primary goal is to uncover and prevent instances of waste, fraud, abuse, and misconduct within the Department of Justice. Additionally, the OIG works to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Department's operations. The Inspector General, who is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, reports to both the Attorney General and Congress.
Reporting evidence of misconduct is a crucial contribution that whistleblowers make to the general public and theDepartment of Justice (DOJ). Any individual affiliated with the DOJ, including employees, contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees, and personal services contractors, are safeguarded against any form of retaliation when they disclose protected information. Below is a summary of the OIG's whistleblower rights and protects. If you have any additional questions or you are thinking of blowing the whistle, contact Nashville whistleblower attorney Timothy L. Miles who can guide you through the whistleblower process and explain your whistleblower protections. The consultation is free and confidential. (855) 846–6529 or [email protected]. Ask a Nashville Whistleblower attorney, you could be entitled to a significant whistleblower award. making a Protected Disclosure
The majority of individuals who work or have worked in the executive branch, as well as those who apply for positions within it, are protected by the WPA. This is because they are considered part of the merit system that oversees the federal civil service, as outlined in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. It is important to note that employees of the Government Publishing Office, which falls under the Legislative Branch, are also afforded these whistleblower protections.
protections for disclosures
Your employer is prohibited by law from retaliating against you for making a "protected disclosure." A disclosure is considered protected if it satisfies two conditions:
Protected Disclosures of Information
The WPA safeguards employees who reveal information that they genuinely believe shows any of the following:
The WPA also safeguards the revelation of information about agency policy choices and/or suppression that pertains to research, analysis, or technical data. This whistleblower protection has a reasonable belief that the repercussions of the policy decision or censorship in question would lead to one of the covered categories of misconduct mentioned earlier. It is important to note that mere disagreement with management regarding agency policy does not fall under the protection provided by the WPA. those who can see protected disclosures
Protected disclosures can be made either internally to individuals within the organization or externally, with certain exceptions for sensitive material. The Whistleblower Protection Act safeguards public disclosures, as long as the underlying information is not restricted from being released by executive order or explicitly prohibited by law. Some examples of common recipients for protected disclosures include Congress, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), Offices of Inspectors General, co-workers or managers, independent government watchdog organizations, and the media.
In cases where the WPA does not provide protection, public disclosures are still safeguarded by the law when made to federal inspectors general, the Office of Special Counsel, and authorized individuals within the whistleblower's agency who are eligible to receive such information. CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
Sharing information that is clearly marked as classified through unauthorized means is illegal. Engaging in such actions may lead to criminal charges. The WPA safeguards the disclosure of classified information to authorized recipients within Congress, as long as the information was classified by the head of a non-intelligence agency and the disclosure does not expose intelligence sources and methods.
Investigating the Alleged Misconduct
Once a whistleblower comes forward with their disclosure, an impartial examination of the accusations may ensue. Once the investigations are conducted and the underlying wrongdoing is verified, the findings may result in policy adjustments or other necessary corrective measures. Any authorized recipient of a whistleblowing disclosure has the authority to investigate the allegations. Various entities such as offices of inspectors general, Congress, the media, and independent government watchdog organizations often carry out investigations into these disclosures. It is worth mentioning that when a disclosure is made to the OSC, it undergoes a time-bound investigation process, where OSC can mandate an agency investigation based on statutory requirements. These investigations are typically carried out by the relevant office of inspector general under the supervision of OSC.
Conduct that is protected
The WPA not only safeguards the disclosure of information but also forbids any form of retaliation against employees who engage in specific actions, such as:
Department of Justice Employees
Wrongdoing is defined as:
Typically, workers have the freedom to share information with anyone, even those who are not part of the government. However, if the information is considered classified or there are specific legal restrictions on its disclosure, it can only be revealed to the OIG, the OSC, or an authorized official within the agency. Employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigations
Wrongdoing is defined as:
An FBI employee is only protected if they disclose information, whether classified or unclassified, to specific individuals or departments. These include:
(H) An employee designated by any officer, employee, office, or division mentioned in subparagraphs (A) through (G), specifically for receiving such disclosures. contractors and grantees
Wrongdoing is defined as:
To ensure the protection of an employee of a contractor or grantee, it is necessary for any disclosures, whether classified or unclassified, to be made to specific individuals or entities. These include:
disclosure of classified information
Disclosing waste, fraud, or abuse that involves classified information does not qualify as a protected disclosure under whistleblower laws unless it is done in accordance with the appropriate laws and regulations governing the handling and transmission of classified information. It is important to note that sharing classified information with unauthorized individuals, even if you believe it is evidence of waste, fraud, or abuse, does not offer protection. However, there are avenues for making a protected disclosure of classified information to the OIG, although the OIG's unclassified hotline should not be used for transmitting such information. For detailed instructions on how to properly provide classified information to the OIG, please reach out to the OIG Hotline at (800) 869-4499 or contact the OIG Whistleblower Protection Coordinator.
Additionally, section 8H of the Inspector General Act outlines a comprehensive process for employees within the Intelligence Community, including FBI employees and employees of FBI contractors, who wish to share classified information with Congress. Prior to initiating a report of classified information under section 8H, employees should carefully review the Inspector How to Report Retaliation for Blowing the Whistle
No individual should ever face or be intimidated by retaliation for stepping forward with a safeguarded revelation. It is against the law for any form of personnel action to be initiated against you due to your act of whistleblowing. If you have reason to believe that you have experienced retaliatory measures as a result of making a safeguarded disclosure, you have the right to file a complaint regarding this retaliatory conduct suject to the procedure set forth below.
If you think you have been retaliated against, contact Nashville whistleblower attorney Timothy L. Miles who can guide you through the whistleblower process. DOJ Employees
If you work for the DOJ you have the option to file a complaint for retaliation with either the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) or the OIG Hotline. The OSC is primarily responsible for handling retaliation complaints from federal employees, including all DOJ employees except for FBI personnel. The OSC has unique powers, such as the ability to request a temporary halt to ongoing personnel actions and the authority to rectify retaliatory measures taken against you. Alternatively, if you choose to submit your complaint to the OIG, we will carefully review it and determine whether it falls under our jurisdiction for investigation or if it should be referred to the OSC or another appropriate entity.
FBI Employees
The OSC does not have the authority to handle retaliation complaints from FBI employees. The process for addressing allegations of whistleblower retaliation for FBI employees differs from those of other DOJ employees. If you are an FBI employee and you believe you have experienced retaliation, you have two options for filing a complaint: you can either submit it to the OIG Hotline or to the DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). The OIG or the OPR will thoroughly investigate reprisal complaints lodged by FBI employees in appropriate cases. After completing their investigations, the OIG and OPR will present their findings to the DOJ Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management (OARM) for further action.
Employees for DOJ Contractors, Subcontractors, or Subgrantees or Personal Services
If you work for a DOJ contractor, subcontractor, grantee, subgrantee, or a personal services contractor of the DOJ, you have the option to file a complaint of retaliation with the OIG Hotline. According to 41 U.S.C. § 4712, it is against the law to terminate, demote, or subject an employee of a federal contractor, subcontractor, grantee, subgrantee, or personal services contractor to any form of discrimination for making a protected disclosure.
Reporting Retaliatory Security Clearance Action
If you are an employee of the DOJ, such as FBI employees, contractors, or grantees, and you suspect that an action taken against your security clearance was in retaliation, you have the option to file a complaint for reprisal with the OIG Hotline. The National Security Act of 1947 and Presidential Policy Directive 19 (PPD-19) explicitly prohibit any agency from engaging in actions that would impact an employee's ability to access classified information as a form of reprisal for making a protected disclosure.
IF YOU ARE THINKING OF BLOWING THE WHISTLE, CONTACT NASHVILLE WHISTLEBLOWER ATTORNEY TIMOTHY L. MILES TODAY
If you have knowledge of fraud against or by the federal government, contact Nashville whistleblower attorney Timothy L. Miles who can guide you through the whistleblower process and explain your whistleblower protections. The consultation is free and confidential. (855) 846–6529 or email: [email protected]. Ask a Whistleblower attorney in Nashville, you could be entitled to a significant whistleblower award.
Call today and see what a whistleblower attorney in Nashville can do for you.
NASHVILLE WHISTLEBLOWER ATTORNEY
TIMOTHY L. MILES, ESQ. The Law Offices of Timothy L. Miles Tapestry at Brentwood Town Center 300 Centerview Dr., #247 Brentwood, TN 37027 Phone: (855) 846–6529 Email: [email protected] NASHVILLE WHISTLEBLOWER ATTORNEY TIMOTHY L. MILES Nashville attorney Timothy L. Miles is a nationally recognized shareholder rights attorney raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Miles has dedicated his career to representing shareholders, employees, and consumers in complex class-action litigation. Whether serving as lead, co-lead, or liaison counsel, Mr. Miles has helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars for defrauded investors, shaped precedent-setting decisions, and delivered real corporate governance reforms. Judges and peers have repeatedly recognized Mr. Miles’ relentless advocacy for the underdog, as well as his unbendable ethical standards. Mr. Miles was recently selected by Martindale-Hubbell® and ALM as a 2022 Top Ranked Lawyer, 2022 Top Rated Litigator. and a 2022 Elite Lawyer of the South. Mr. Miles also maintains the AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, their highest rating for both legal ability and ethics. Mr. Miles is a member of the prestigious Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers: The National Trial Lawyers Association,Class Action: Class Action: Top National Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association (2023), a superb rated attorney by Avvo, a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by Premier Lawyers of America (2019) and recognized as a Distinguished Lawyer, Recognizing Excellence in Securities Law, by Lawyers of Distinction (2019); a Top Rated Litigator by Martindale-Hubbell® and ALM (2019-2022); America’s Most Honored Lawyers 2020 – Top 1% by America’s Most Honored (2020-2022). Mr. Miles has published over sixty articles on various issues of the law, including class actions, whistleblower cases, products liability, civil procedure, derivative actions, corporate takeover litigation, corporate formation, mass torts, dangerous drugs, and more. Please visit our website or call for free anytime. Comments are closed.
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