Posted on 06/06/2005 6:52:41 PM PDT by CHARLITE
A Los Alamos whistleblower scheduled to testify before congress later this month is now in the hospital, according to news reports. Auditor Tommy Hook was brutally beaten by three or four anonymous assailants who allegedly ordered him to keep quiet.
On Saturday night, Hook went to a Santa Fe bar ostensibly to meet a person claiming to be a fellow Los Alamos whistleblower that called that night. When the person did not show, Hook left the bar after consuming two drinks.
In the parking lot, he was yanked out of his car and beaten so badly by the three or four men that he had to be taken to intensive care at a local emergency room.
Reportedly, Hook did not provoke these men. The men concentrated on kicking his head, and Hook's family has opined that the men would have killed him if it hadn't been for a club employee, who ran from the club and broke up the beating.
Congressional staff members were set to arrive Tuesday in Los Alamos to investigate Hook's allegations of malfeasance at the lab.
Tommy Hook remains hospitalized with severe trauma to his face and head, including a fractured jaw and a herniated disk. The FBI has been called-in to investigate the attack, and Hook is currently under close protective custody.
Congress Warned of Ill Treatment of Hook
Last March, Danielle Brian, Executive Director Project On Government Oversight (POGO) testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations regarding a review of security initiatives at DOE Nuclear Weapons Facilities.
He especially focused on Hook and another whisterblower:
"I would be remiss if I did not report to the Committee that, while not a part of former Secretary Abraham's initiatives, the treatment of whistleblowers throughout the complex remains abysmal. Retaliation remains the norm, not the exception, as can be seen in the case of Tommy Hook and Chuck Montano, who have both worked at Los Alamos for decades.
"After the Committee's three hearings on financial fraud at Los Alamos, the University of California was telling the public that all was resolved, while at the same time retaliating against these two men who knew otherwise. Hook and Montano were responsible for providing audit support for UC and uncovered ongoing irregularities and outright misconduct amounting to millions of taxpayer dollars.
"Their audit reports were withheld from DOE. Their treatment? Their work was taken away from them, they were given no work for nine months, and now they are only being handed menial assignments. Even the head of the Los Alamos Site Office tried to intervene on Tommy Hook's behalf, only to be rebuffed by an arrogant University of California."
According to a report in Exec.com, Susan Hook, the victim's wife, Bob Rothstein, his attorney, and Montano confirmed that Hook was at the club to meet with another employee who claimed to have information that would support charges of wrongdoing.
Susan Hook and Montano further alleged that the assault was absolutely connected to Tommy Hook's impending testimony:
"When they were beating him up, they were telling him ... 'If you know what is good for you, you will keep your mouth shut,'" said Susan Hook.
Rothstein recalled that a person claiming to be an auditor from Los Alamos had contacted Hook a week before and had offered to share information about financial issues at the laboratory. Rothstein said that one meeting had already fallen through, but the second was arranged on Saturday night at the strip club.
The nightclub's doorman ran into the parking lot and broke up the attack, according to a club employee who witnessed the beating. The employee said Hook was assaulted by a group of men.
Joint Investigation
Called to the scene, FBI Special Agent Bill Elwell confirmed that federal agents are investigating with Santa Fe police officers. He said they are "still trying to figure out" what happened at the nightclub. "We are looking into the allegations made by Mr. Hook," Elwell said.
Los Alamos issued a statement:
"The University of California and the laboratory are outraged that a laboratory employee was the victim of a weekend assault in Santa Fe. Director [Robert] Kuckuck was made aware of the attack this morning and expressed his hope that the individual will make a quick recovery"
"Director Kuckuck, the University of California and the laboratory believe that any form of physical violence toward an individual is unacceptable. The laboratory is in contact with the Santa Fe Police Department and is providing the laboratory's full support and cooperation with the ongoing investigation."
Susan Hooks said that her husband's wallet and car were not taken.
Union thug activity ping, nothing to see here, move along...
Try doing some basic research. There were numerous scandals during the Clinton administration involving Los Alamos, reduced and lax security at several classified facilities, theft of nuclear secrets, infiltration of facilities and the admin by Chinese spies, along with the related corruption and bribery.
Ever heard of Wen Ho Lee? Johnny Chung? Bernard Schwartz, Loral? The Riady family? The missing nuke data found weeks later behind a copier machine? Aware of what role current NM Gov. Bill Richardson played in the Monica scandal? Aware of the harassment of Kathleen Wiley? Aware of the similar thuggery that took place in 80's Arkansas? Know who Terry Lenzner is?
This is a crime that occurred at the center of one of the ongoing scandals tied to and originating in the Clinton administration. It also is reminiscent of the many acts of intimidation committed against Clinton critics/witnesses (which I'm sure are all just coincindental occurances). How much smoke until you admit there might, just might, be some fire?
You might start by researching Alamo-Girl's 'Downside Legacy'.
Hook 'em!
Ah yes, now I see that you like to throw around the word 'neo-con' and said in late October that you were going to vote against President Bush.
Sorry for wasting my time and taking you seriously.
That's weird. I just posted Hook 'em to you on a different thread. Were you replying to that or my comment that UT was going to win the Los Alamos bid on this thread?
both. =P
Thank Jimmy Carter for this mess----It's been going downhill since he sent Dixie Lee Ray to push it over the edge.
Several things raised a red flag for me too.
1. Why would a whistleblower meet with another wistleblower?
This could only compromise their testimony.
2.Why meet at a strip club? on Saturday night?
High dollar drinks or a cover charge, either way it is an expensive way to go. The food court at the mall seems a better choice, for many reasons other than money or safety.
3.The guy had only two drinks?
Ask any patrol officer how many DUI arrests claim they only had two drinks. Answer: All of them.
I am as always disappointed in the media. Of the 800+ stories on this, most are just duplicates of the original. Why won't these "reporters" get out there and interview the bar employees and others, then maybe we wouldn't have to second guess this poor guy's statement.
Greetings from the unions of Los Alamos Labs & University of California, Mr. Hook.
Before it's over, I expect he'll be accused of being a drunk, bar-hopping slob who popped off to some chick whose boyfriend roughed him up.
Until enough people see the purpose of pc.
See my #151. You don't think he could have been set up, do you? No better way than to lead him to a strip club, IMO.
OUCH! Well obviously if they catch those involved there may be witness tampering charges.
1. Makes him think twice about testimony;
2. Sends message to other potential whistleblowers at LANL.
This really is THE question isn't it.
This whistleblower in particular didn't need to meet with another whistle blower to get "information that would support charges of wrongdoing". Tommy Hooks' testimony had already been given and was already well known, well accepted, and substantiated.
Hooks had already given audit information to support the charges of malfeasance against UCAL. The congressional testimony he was about to give is just a dog and pony show.
The incident, as it is currently being reported, just doesn't make sense.
I suppose Hooks might just be lacking enough in the common sense department to buy into a story that lured him to a strip joint to get the crap beaten out of him. The only way this makes sense though is if he was about to give new testimony, but that would be a novel feature at a congressional hearing. Congressional hearings are about making congress-critters look good, not about giving new testimony.
Of course, they'll never admit anything. They'll just say that it was probably some local business owners who are afraid of losing business if LANL closes or LANL workers, afraid for their jobs, who got over-zealous. They'll claim it's all Hook's fault for being such a nasty liar who is jeopardizing everybody's job and the local economy, so it could be anybody.
I hold LANL management directly responsible for this.
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