Former CIA and Vero official seeks
protection for federal whistleblowers
A former CIA and Vero official is part of a new
organization that is working to prevent reprisals.
By Ed Bierschenk
staff writer
August 23, 2005
VERO BEACH — Former CIA officer Lynne Larkin wants to
give people watching out for the security of the nation some security of their
own when it comes to revealing problems within their workplaces.
An overseas operations officer for 10 years before leaving the CIA in 1993,
the former Vero Beach City Council member believes she was punished
professionally for bringing up her concerns about serious security breaches and
other officers' misconduct.
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The punishment included no longer being offered postings that would have
enhanced her career and having false reports submitted regarding her work,
according to Larkin.
Larkin and other former and current members of the CIA, FBI, Drug
Enforcement Administration and other security agencies have formed a group
known as the National Security Whistleblowers Coalition.
The group is dedicated to helping inform the government of security
weaknesses and to make sure those who bring such vulnerabilities to light are
not punished.
Currently, Larkin and other members of the organization are lobbying in
support of legislation in the House and Senate to accomplish this aim.
Senate Bill 494, for example, would amend the Whistleblower Protection Act
by providing protection against reprisal for federal employees who publicly
disclose government wrongdoing. Larkin notes such protection is afforded for
private citizens now, but not for federal officials.
In a statement earlier this year supporting legislative protection for
federal employees, Sibel Edmonds, director of the organization, said,
"Employees of our intelligence agencies should never be forced to choose
between career and conscience when faced with agency wrongdoing. And without
the free flow of information from all government employees to Congress,
Congress cannot exercise its Constitutionally required oversight of the
executive branch."
Larkin said this bill and H.B. 1317 have garnered bi-partisan support, but
she is still trying to get Florida legislators to sign on to the legislation.
In addition, Larkin wants to see a provision added in the legislation that
would provide for the creation of some type of ombudsmen or federal office,
where workers could go with their concerns if they were not receiving a
satisfactory response from their own superiors.
"We want a place where people can take their concerns that is safe and
secure," said Larkin.
The need for government workers to be able to voice their concerns about
security issues is more important than ever since the terrorist attacks of
Sept. 11, 2001, according to Larkin. She said family members of the victims of
that attack are in support of such legislative action.
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Copyright 2005, Scripps Treasure Coast Publishing Co. |
