| I’m writing to share a quick update about our work on behalf of FBI whistleblower John Parkinson.
Lieutenant Colonel Parkinson’s employment at the FBI was terminated after he blew the whistle on colleagues’ sexual misconduct, including using an FBI plane to “fly at night to Reno, Nevada, for the sole purpose of engaging prostitutes in acts of illicit sex.”
As a veteran, Mr. Parkinson has the right to appeal his termination before the independent Merit Systems Protection Board, but the Department of Justice has sought to prevent his use of a whistleblower defense there.
After an initial victory and then a setback in federal courts, Mr. Parkinson has petitioned the Supreme Court (PDF). We don’t know yet whether the Court will hear his case, but we believe this is the best chance to win an important precedent. There are very few effective protections for FBI whistleblowers, and a positive ruling on this case could preserve the right to independent review for thousands of veterans who work at the Bureau.
We’ll keep you updated as we learn more. And again, I want to thank you again for supporting our work, not just to defend individual whistleblowers, but to fight precedent-setting cases to win better protections for all. Thanks to you, we are able to take on important cases few others can or will. |
