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For Immediate Release
May, 22 2009, 11:10am EDT
Contact:
Michael Kohn (202) 342-6980
Lindsey Williams (202) 342-1903
Army Corps Backs Down on Censorship
WASHINGTON
The Army Corps of Engineers'
attempt to censor Bunnatine (Bunny) H. Greenhouse has backfired.
Within hours of testifying before Congress on May 14, 2009, Greenhouse
was sent orders via email that she could no longer testify without
first obtaining prior clearance and approval from her chain of
command. The email, which contained orders originating with the Army
Corps' Chief of Staff, unequivocally stated: "Regardless of the
specifics of any hearing, these [censorship] requirements do not change
and are HQ direction for all." The National Whistleblowers Center
sent a formal protest to the White House on behalf of Greenhouse and
asked the public to send letters to the President.
Yesterday evening at 5:58 pm, Greenhouse was again emailed, this time
advising that she did not have to comply with the censorship
requirements.
"This
in an important
victory. Federal works have a right to tell Congress what's on their
mind without having to face government censorship" said Michael Kohn,
President of the National Whistleblowers Center and attorney for Ms.
Greenhouse. "The White House listened, this is a victory of the people
and by the people" said Kohn, adding "it's time the White House lived
up to its campaign promise to provide meaningful whistleblower
protection to federal employees as only a jury trial can." According
to Kohn "American heroes, like Bunny Greenhouse, deserve a day in court
and the right to be able to tell a jury of their peers what's really
going on behind the closed doors of government."
This
was not the first time the Army Corps attempted to sensor Greenhouse.
When Greenhouse
was scheduled to testify before a Congressional Committee during the
Bush Administration, the Army Corps' then acting General Counsel
personally advised Greenhouse it would not be in her
bests interests to do so, and she was swiftly removed as the Army
Corps' Procurement Executive when she ignored that warning.
Letter to President Obama - May 18, 2009 Letter from Bunnatine Greenhouse to the American People - May 19, 2009
Since 1988, the NWC and attorneys associated with it have supported whistleblowers in the courts and before Congress and achieved victories for environmental protection, government contract fraud, nuclear safety and government and corporate accountability.
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