The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Jesselyn Radack, jess at exposefacts.org
Kathleen McClellan, kathleen at exposefacts.org
Sam Husseini, sam at exposefacts.org

Protecting National Security Whistleblowers: A New Program

ExposeFacts, a project of the Institute for Public Accuracy, is pleased to announce the launch of a new Whistleblower and Source Protection Program (WHISPeR). WHISPeR makes ExposeFacts the first journalistic organization to house a program dedicated entirely to providing affordable legal representation to whistleblowers and sources. See video announcement.

WASHINGTON

ExposeFacts, a project of the Institute for Public Accuracy, is pleased to announce the launch of a new Whistleblower and Source Protection Program (WHISPeR). WHISPeR makes ExposeFacts the first journalistic organization to house a program dedicated entirely to providing affordable legal representation to whistleblowers and sources. See video announcement.

To head WHISPeR, ExposeFacts has brought in internationally renowned whistleblower and human rights attorney Jesselyn Radack as National Security and Human Rights Director. Ms. Radack represents NSA whistleblowers Edward Snowden, Thomas Drake and William Binney, CIA torture whistleblower John Kiriakou and dozens of anonymous national security and intelligence whistleblowers and sources who have been fired, criminally investigated and punished for shedding light on government and corporate illegalities.

Ms. Radack will be joined by National Security and Human Rights Deputy Director Kathleen McClellan, whose decade-plus of legal experience advocating for civil liberties and human rights reforms provides invaluable expertise and support.

Launched by the Institute for Public Accuracy in 2014, ExposeFacts promotes whistleblowing with a unique blend of independent journalism, methodical organizing and public outreach. Institute for Public Accuracy Executive Director Norman Solomon said:

"The government's unprecedented crackdown on 'national security' whistleblowers using the Espionage Act has created a chilling atmosphere for sources and journalists, giving rise to a larger war on information that the public has a right to know. At ExposeFacts, our message from the beginning has been, 'whistleblowers welcome.' With the launch of WHISPeR, headed by the unmatched legal powerhouse Jesselyn Radack, ExposeFacts can now provide affordable top-notch legal representation directly to some whistleblowers and sources."

WHISPeR National Security and Human Rights Director Jesselyn Radack said: "ExposeFacts is a cutting-edge initiative already recognizing the need for better source protection and making a tremendous positive impact for whistleblowers and investigative journalism. At WHISPeR, we provide journalists, sources, whistleblowers, and hacktivists with critical affordable legal protection, public advocacy, and the latest in encryption technology. It takes courageous individuals to speak truth to power. WHISPeR protects and amplifies their voices."

A nationwide consortium, the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) represents an unprecedented effort to bring other voices to the mass-media table often dominated by a few major think tanks. IPA works to broaden public discourse in mainstream media, while building communication with alternative media outlets and grassroots activists.