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Federal Whistleblower Rules (Sorry Libs, it does NOT apply to the Leaker!)

Posted on 12/30/2005 2:59:49 PM PST by Pukin Dog

U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL
1730 M Street N.W., Suite 218 • Washington D.C. 20036-4505
www.osc.gov December 30, 2005


Whistleblower Disclosures


Overview OSC’s Disclosure Unit (DU) serves as a safe conduit for the receipt and evaluation of whistleblower disclosures from federal employees, former employees and applicants for federal employment. 5 U.S.C. § 1213. In this capacity, DU receives and evaluates whistleblowing disclosures—which are separate and distinct from complaints of reprisal or retaliation for whistleblowing which are reviewed by OSC’s Complaints Examining Unit as a prohibited personnel practice.

The OSC disclosure process differs from other government whistleblower channels in at least three ways: (1) federal law guarantees confidentiality to the whistleblower; (2) the Special Counsel may order an agency head to investigate and report on the disclosure; and (3) after any such investigation, the Special Counsel must send the agency's report, with the whistleblower's comments, to the President and Congressional oversight committees. 

As stated above, a whistleblower’s identity will not be revealed without their consent. However, in the unusual case where the Special Counsel determines there is an imminent danger to public health and safety or violation of criminal, the Special Counsel has the authority to reveal the whistleblower’s identity. 5 U.S.C. § 1213(h)

DU attorneys review five types of disclosures specified in the statute: violations of law, rule or regulation; gross mismanagement; gross waste of funds; abuse of authority; and substantial and specific danger to public health and safety. 5 U.S.C. § 1213(b). The disclosures are evaluated to determine whether or not there is sufficient information to conclude with a substantial likelihood that one of these conditions has been disclosed. 

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Jurisdictional Requirements The Disclosure Unit has jurisdiction over federal employees, former federal employees, and applicants for federal employment. It is important to note that a disclosure must be related to an event that occurred in connection with the performance of an employee's duties and responsibilities. The Disclosure Unit does not have jurisdiction over disclosures filed by: 

  • employees of the U.S. Postal Service and the Postal Rate Commission;
  • members of the armed forces of the United States (i.e., non-civilian military employees);

  • state employees operating under federal grants;
  • employees of federal contractors.

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Filing a Disclosure Whistleblowers must make their disclosures to OSC in writing. To facilitate this process, OSC has developed a form which may be used to file a disclosure. OSC Form No. 12, Disclosure of Information.  Use of OSC Form No. 12 is not mandatory. However, if you do not use the form, it is important to include your name, address and telephone numbers. For assistance with filing a disclosure, or any other inquiries, please contact the DU Hotline at (800) 572-2249 or (202) 254-3640. 

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Evaluating Disclosures DU attorneys evaluate the disclosures to determine whether or not there is a substantial likelihood that one of the following conditions has been disclosed: a violation of law, rule or regulation, gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, and a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety. Disclosures are reviewed in the order they are received with disclosures of dangers to public health and safety receiving high priority. 

OSC will generally not consider anonymous disclosures. If a disclosure is filed by an anonymous source, the disclosure will be referred to the Office of Inspector General in the appropriate agency. OSC will take no further action on the disclosure. 

OSC does not have authority to investigate the disclosures that it receives. In order to make a "substantial likelihood" finding, OSC considers a number of factors including whether the disclosure includes reliable, first-hand information. In general, OSC does not request an agency head to conduct an investigation based on the whistleblower’s second-hand knowledge of agency wrongdoing. Individuals with first-hand knowledge of the allegations are encouraged to file disclosures in writing directly with OSC. 


Similarly, speculation about the existence of misconduct does not provide OSC with a sufficient legal basis upon which to send a matter to the head of an agency. If a whistleblower believes that wrongdoing took place, but can provide no information to support that assertion, OSC will not be able to refer the allegations to the head of the agency for an investigation. 

If OSC finds no substantial likelihood that the information discloses one or more of the categories of wrongdoing, the whistleblower is notified of the reasons the disclosure may not be acted on further and directed to other offices available for receiving disclosures. 

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The Referral Process under 5 U.S.C. § 1213(c) Should OSC find that there is a substantial likelihood that one of the statutory conditions exists, the Special Counsel will refer the disclosure to the appropriate agency head.  5 U.S.C. § 1213(c). The head of the agency is then required to conduct an investigation and submit a written report on the findings of the investigation to the Special Counsel. 

The statute sets forth specific information that must be included in the agency’s report. 
5 U.S.C. § 1213(d). The agency reports must be reviewed and signed by the head of the agency and must include the basis for the investigation, the manner in which the investigation was conducted and a summary of the evidence gathered. The report must also list any apparent violations found and include a description of any action to be taken as a result of the investigation. OSC does not decide who within the agency will conduct the investigation. However, agency heads frequently task their Offices of Inspector General with the responsibility for investigating the disclosures referred by OSC. 

The statute requires agency heads to complete the investigation and report back to OSC on their findings within 60 days. 5 U.S.C. § 1213(c)(1). If an agency needs additional time to complete the investigation and report, an extension of time may be requested. Extension requests must be submitted in writing and must state specifically the reasons the additional time is needed. Extensions will only be granted upon a showing of good cause. 

Upon receipt, the agency’s report is reviewed to determine whether it contains the information required by the statute and whether or not the report’s findings appear to be reasonable. 5 U.S.C. § 1213(e)(2). In addition, the whistleblower is afforded an opportunity to review and comment on the agency report.

5 U.S.C. § 1213(e)(1). If the report meets the statutory requirements, the Special Counsel then transmits the report with comments and recommendations to the President and the congressional committees with oversight responsibility for the agency involved. 5 U.S.C. § 1213(e)(3). OSC is also required to place the report in a public file. 5 U.S.C. § 1219. The whistleblower’s comments are also sent to the President and congressional oversight committees. 

If the report reveals evidence of a criminal violation it will not be sent to the whistleblower, nor does it become part of the public file. Instead, the agency is required to forward the information directly to the Attorney General and to notify the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget of the referral. 
5 U.S.C. § 1213(f)

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The Referral Process under 5 U.S.C. § 1213(g) The Special Counsel may also refer cases to the head of an agency where no substantial likelihood determination has been made. 5 U.S.C. § 1213(g)(2). In these cases, the Special Counsel has the discretion to transmit the information provided by the whistleblower to the head of the agency identified in the disclosure. The agency head is then required to inform OSC in writing, within a reasonable time, what action has been or will be taken, and when such action will be completed. The whistleblower is also informed of the referral to the agency head. 

OSC may use this discretionary authority in circumstances where the Special Counsel concludes that the information provided by the whistleblower merits the consideration of the agency head, even though it does not meet the statutory criteria for a mandatory investigation under 5 U.S.C. § 1213(c). Thus, this section allows the Special Counsel to issue a formal communication to the head of an agency notifying that agency of a matter of concern within one or more of the five statutory categories. 

Section 1213(g)(2) differs significantly from 1213(c). Under 1213(g)(2) there is no requirement for the agency to investigate the allegations nor is the agency required to respond in 60 days. However, the agency is required to inform the Special Counsel in writing within a reasonable amount of time of what action has been taken or is being taken and when the action will be completed. At present, the Special Counsel has interpreted the statutory phrase “reasonable time” to mean 90 days. Thereafter, the agency is required to request extensions of time as in 1213(c) cases.

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The Referral Process under 5 U.S.C. § 1213(j) For disclosures of information involving counterintelligence and foreign intelligence information the statute sets forth a different procedure under 5 U.S.C. § 1213(j). If the Special Counsel determines that a disclosure involves counterintelligence or foreign intelligence information, which is prohibited from disclosure by law or Executive order, the disclosure will be transmitted to the National Security Advisor, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in the House and Select Committee on Intelligence in the Senate. 5 U.S.C. § 1213(j). The referral ends the Special Counsel’s involvement with the disclosure and the National Security Advisor and the Congressional intelligence committees decide how to proceed with the information. The disclosure will not be referred to the head of the agency involved for an investigation.

Last Updated: 5/4/05



TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: leaks; liberals; losing; lying; spying; whistleblower
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A predictable attempt to call a leaker a "Whistleblower", but I dont think you will find that definition here.

Anyone who wants a good laugh, should check out the panic going on at Kos, DU and the NY Times today.

1 posted on 12/30/2005 2:59:52 PM PST by Pukin Dog
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To: Pukin Dog

DU - what an unfortunate acronym.

I'll bet the DUmp/antfarm is in a tizzy over all this stuff, I'll have to check it out this weekend.


2 posted on 12/30/2005 3:05:18 PM PST by GaltMeister (“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”)
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To: GaltMeister

Daily Kos is melting down over this...


3 posted on 12/30/2005 3:08:34 PM PST by Dog ( ABMcM(Anybody but McCain....except Bill Frist))
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To: Pukin Dog

Is this post in reference to the leaks being investigated by the justice department?


4 posted on 12/30/2005 3:09:34 PM PST by calex59
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To: calex59

Yes..what was your first clue?


5 posted on 12/30/2005 3:10:36 PM PST by Dog ( ABMcM(Anybody but McCain....except Bill Frist))
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To: Pukin Dog

Great job. I guess the ACLU lawyers didn't do their research before taking out their big ad in the NY Slimes. W and the DOJ have them boxed in on this one...


6 posted on 12/30/2005 3:11:07 PM PST by eureka! (Hey Lefties and 'Rats: Over 3 more years of W. Hehehehe....)
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To: Pukin Dog
If the leaker(s) are really whistleblowers they will come forward and defend their actions. Otherwise, they are cowardly traitors.
7 posted on 12/30/2005 3:11:38 PM PST by Mike Darancette (Mesocons for Rice '08)
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To: Pukin Dog; Dog

You dog's sure have strong stomachs. ;o)


8 posted on 12/30/2005 3:11:39 PM PST by tsmith130
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To: Dog
Check out this amendment to the Whistleblower Protection Act, sponsored by Senators Akaka, Levin, Leahy, Durbin, and Dayton.

A whistleblower must also limit the disclosure to a member of Congress or staff of the executive or legislative branch holding the appropriate security clearance and authorized to receive the information disclosed. Federal agencies covered by the WPA would be required to establish a process to provide confidential advice to employees on how to lawfully make a protected disclosure of classified information to Congress.

It just gets better and better.......

9 posted on 12/30/2005 3:11:46 PM PST by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: Pukin Dog

To be protected as a whistleblower, you must report a crime. Trust me, I know this. There is no crime in monitoring enemy communications during wartime.


10 posted on 12/30/2005 3:13:23 PM PST by SolidSupplySide
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To: Dog

My, my, Dog. Did you take a cranky pill this morning? Not everyone here has followed this like some of us to instantly link "whistleblower" with the MSM's attack on the investigation...


11 posted on 12/30/2005 3:13:32 PM PST by eureka! (Hey Lefties and 'Rats: Over 3 more years of W. Hehehehe....)
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To: Dog
Yes..what was your first clue?

Did I ask for a smart assed answer? I asked a civil question, I have been off the net and not close to any news source all day and I was wondering what was going on. However if it is too much of an effort for you to answer like a gentleman then I say to you: F**K OFF.

12 posted on 12/30/2005 3:13:48 PM PST by calex59
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To: Pukin Dog

OK PD...is the NSA one of those Federal agencies ?


13 posted on 12/30/2005 3:15:18 PM PST by Dog ( ABMcM(Anybody but McCain....except Bill Frist))
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To: All
On Fox News, Ron Kessler just said: "I think you are going to see some reporters going to jail."

This is based on the assumption that the sources will NOT release the reporters to testify, which will force them to pull a Judith Miller.

This means either the leaker goes, or the Journalists go.

Pukin is gonna get his frog-march, one way or another!

14 posted on 12/30/2005 3:15:58 PM PST by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: calex59
Oh relax. Unwad your panties and join the discussion. We are all a bit excited today.
15 posted on 12/30/2005 3:16:45 PM PST by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: Pukin Dog

But I thought that holding any government office became a person's personal toy box and whatever measures they take to help the Democrats is OK. /sarcasm


16 posted on 12/30/2005 3:17:14 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult
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To: SolidSupplySide
Quite true, and even IF it was a crime, because the information was classified, it cannot legally be released to the media.
17 posted on 12/30/2005 3:18:00 PM PST by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: Pukin Dog

Well, that's sure gonna get their panties in a twist.


18 posted on 12/30/2005 3:18:20 PM PST by processing please hold (Islam and Christianity do not mix ----9-11 taught us that)
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To: Pukin Dog; Miss Marple; Cap Huff

See post 14..


19 posted on 12/30/2005 3:18:23 PM PST by Dog ( ABMcM(Anybody but McCain....except Bill Frist))
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To: Dog
Yep.
20 posted on 12/30/2005 3:18:56 PM PST by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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