Justice Order Gags Whistleblowers - May 5, 2003 Vol. 4 No. 9

May 5, 2003 Vol. 4 No. 9:

Published: 05/05/2003

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Justice Order Gags Whistleblowers

The Justice Department issued a directive on March 27th tightening their oversight of employee contact with Congress. Employees are directed to inform the Office of Legislative Affairs "ahead of time and as soon as possible - of all potential briefings on Capitol Hill and significant, substantive conversations with staff and members on Capitol Hill." This requirement would include phone calls. The office would clear Congressional contacts and liaison officials would accompany employees to briefings.

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) has called the directive "an attempt to muzzle whistleblowers" and a "very inappropriate interference." Whistleblowers would be much less inclined to provide information to Congress if their conversations and activities were closely monitored. Barbara Comstock, director of the Office of Public Affairs at the Justice Department, has stated that the directive has been the "longstanding practice of this department" and has nothing to do with whistleblowers. She believes the order promotes information sharing with Congress. Grassley has stated he has already seen a chilling effect on the information flow to Congress. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) have also expressed criticisms of the Justice Department policy. Leahy believes the orders are part of the larger problem of limiting information and creating added burdens to the process of Congressional oversight.