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This wasn't mentioned specifically in the article, but this reminds me how we have some legal protections for whistle-blowers in the United States (not nearly e

This wasn't mentioned specifically in the article, but this reminds me how we have some legal protections for whistle-blowers in the United States (not nearly enough, IMHO) but none of those protections extend to government employees. It's as if the government thinks they're incapable of breaking their own laws. If you do it to a privately held company, it's whistle-blowing. If you do it to the government, it's treason.

tssva 8y ago
This is false. US Government employees have whistleblower protections under the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 and PPD-19 which Obama issued in 2012.
- Lowkeyloki 8y ago
  Unfortunately too late for Chelsea Manning.
  - tssva 8y ago
    Chelsea Manning's release would still be a crime and not afforded whistleblower protection under current law. There were and are specific processes to be followed to qualify for whistleblower protection.
  - diminoten 8y ago
    Yeah, which is why her sentence was commuted (albeit later than would be ideal for her).
- AnaniasAnanas 8y ago
  Does it not also apply to Snowden then?
  - tssva 8y ago
    First since the original comment was about government employees it is important to point out that Snowden was a contractor and not a government employee. Although no form of protection from employment retaliation was in place at the time of Snowden's information release the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act of 1998 did provide a process for intelligence community employees and contractors to raise issues. Snowden didn't follow the procedures of the act and his direct release of classified material is not protected by the act nor would any laws passed since to strengthen whistleblower protection provide any defense for such a release of classified material. Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act of 1998 requires a whistleblower to raise any issues to the Department of Justice for review. The DoJ evaluates any issues raised and if they determine they may be credible will report the issues and supporting material to the Senate and House Intelligence committees along with starting their own investigation. If the DoJ determines they issues are not credible the employee and contractor can present the issue and any supporting classified documentation to the Senate and House Intelligence committees themselves.

tssva 8y ago

This is false. US Government employees have whistleblower protections under the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 and PPD-19 which Obama issued in 2012.

Lowkeyloki 8y ago
Unfortunately too late for Chelsea Manning.
- tssva 8y ago
  Chelsea Manning's release would still be a crime and not afforded whistleblower protection under current law. There were and are specific processes to be followed to qualify for whistleblower protection.
- diminoten 8y ago
  Yeah, which is why her sentence was commuted (albeit later than would be ideal for her).
AnaniasAnanas 8y ago
Does it not also apply to Snowden then?
- tssva 8y ago
  First since the original comment was about government employees it is important to point out that Snowden was a contractor and not a government employee. Although no form of protection from employment retaliation was in place at the time of Snowden's information release the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act of 1998 did provide a process for intelligence community employees and contractors to raise issues. Snowden didn't follow the procedures of the act and his direct release of classified material is not protected by the act nor would any laws passed since to strengthen whistleblower protection provide any defense for such a release of classified material. Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act of 1998 requires a whistleblower to raise any issues to the Department of Justice for review. The DoJ evaluates any issues raised and if they determine they may be credible will report the issues and supporting material to the Senate and House Intelligence committees along with starting their own investigation. If the DoJ determines they issues are not credible the employee and contractor can present the issue and any supporting classified documentation to the Senate and House Intelligence committees themselves.