FBI LAB WHISTLE-BLOWER SUSPENDED AFTER REPORT.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. The FBI has suspended a scientist-agent whose charges led to a still-secret Justice Department report critical of the FBI crime laboratory. Three other lab workers were removed from their positions because of the report. A Republican senator said Monday that the suspension of whistle-blower whis·tle·blow·er or whis·tle-blow·er or whistle blower n. One who reveals wrongdoing within an organization to the public or to those in positions of authority: "The Pentagon's most famous whistleblower is . . Frederic Whitehurst Biography Dr. Frederic Whitehurst joined the FBI in 1982 and served as a Supervisory Special Agent in the FBI crime lab from 1986-98. He achieved a great deal of media attention during the 1990s for blowing the whistle at the FBI Lab. Dr. Whitehurst received a Ph.D. ``appears to be a reprisal reprisal, in international law, the forcible taking, in time of peace, by one country of the property or territory belonging to another country or to the citizens of the other country, to be held as a pledge or as redress in order to satisfy a claim. .'' An FBI statement released Monday night denied that the actions were taken ``in retaliation RETALIATION. The act by which a nation or individual treats another in the same manner that the latter has treated them. For example, if a nation should lay a very heavy tariff on American goods, the United States would be justified in return in laying heavy duties on the manufactures and for the actions of any employee.'' The FBI statement did not identify any of the employees by name and said only that, based on the inspector general's findings, four lab employees ``who had major responsibilities in explosives investigations have been removed from their positions.'' They continue to receive pay and benefits while the bureau decides whether they engaged in misconduct MISCONDUCT. Unlawful behaviour by a person entrusted in any degree: with the administration of justice, by which the rights of the parties and the justice of the, case may have been affected. 2. . The three employees, other than Whitehurst, were transferred out of the FBI lab but not suspended, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. several officials, who requested anonymity. The FBI said it ``does not believe any of the problems cited by the inspector general will preclude anyone from receiving a fair trial'' and disputes those who say the problems ``have compromised any past, present or future prosecutions.'' Whitehurst, once an FBI crime lab supervisor, was placed on administrative leave with pay Friday afternoon and barred from entering any FBI building, even as a guest, according to a letter from acting lab Director Donald W. Thompson Jr. The FBI took Whitehurst's badge and gun, said his lawyer, Stephen Kohn. The action came just days after FBI Director Louis J. Freeh received a report from the Justice Department's inspector general that officials said criticizes the work of some FBI lab employees and a report from a special investigative counsel who looked into an alleged press leak by Whitehurst. Thompson's letter said only that Whitehurst was suspended ``pending our review of information in the possession of the Department of Justice'' and added that the move ``does not indicate that you have engaged in any inappropriate conduct.'' Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of a Judiciary subcommittee sub·com·mit·tee n. A subordinate committee composed of members appointed from a main committee. subcommittee Noun on administrative oversight, wrote Freeh on Monday to demand that FBI officials appear today in his office to justify the action against Whitehurst. ``Recently, a Department of Justice official knowledgeable about the IG's investigation told me privately that Dr. Whitehurst had done a service for his country in bringing forth his information,'' Grassley wrote. ``The action taken by the FBI implies that he is being punished for `committing truth.' It appears to be a reprisal for his disclosures,'' Grassley wrote. |
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