How Attorney General Barr could change the federal culture of corruption in 60 days

The Hill ^ | 5/6/2019 | sharyl attkisson

[bitt]

I'm in my 30th year of covering national news and I've learned a hard truth about the federal government under numerous administrations. It's a culture where truth-telling is frowned upon; coverup is rewarded and encouraged.

That helps answer a question many have recently asked about the FBI and our intelligence community: Why haven't more whistleblowers come forward?

Several months ago, an FBI source told me that numerous whistleblowers had gone to members of Congress with information about the FBI and the Trump-Russia scandal, only to have congressional leaders turn their names over to the Department of Justice. True or not, this was the word on the street, and it had a chilling impact on other would-be whistleblowers.

The fact is, insiders know that things rarely turn out well for the whistleblowers. They and their families are targeted, attacked and smeared. They lose their jobs or chance to advance. Their health suffers. Their personal lives fall apart.

Meantime, they look over their shoulders and see that their truth-telling changed nothing. The guilty parties usually stay in their cushy jobs or are allowed to quietly retire with full benefits. Sometimes they're promoted.

So it's no surprise that, even though I believe the federal government is populated with mostly good people, they tend to keep their mouths shut and go along. After all, why come forward if your actions aren't going to fix anything and the only result will be that your life is ruined?

There's a simple yet dramatic way to change this longstanding culture, one that everyone should be able to get behind: A new whistleblower amnesty program.

[bitt]

P

[bitt]

P

[DIRTYSECRET]

Doesn’t surprise me one bit.

[backwoods-engineer]

It’s entirely too sensible, but does not protect elite evildoers. Therefore, such an amnesty program would never be implemented.

[laplata]

I agree. Comey, for one, would accept amnesty immediately. He’d be off the hook.

Severe justice must be served.

[reasonisfaith]

Except when God wants to implement it.

[GOPJ]

...an FBI source told me that numerous whistleblowers had gone to members of Congress with information about the FBI and the Trump-Russia scandal, only to have congressional leaders turn their names over to the Department of Justice. True or not, this was the word on the street, and it had a chilling impact on other would-be whistleblowers.

Toxic incentives...

[TigersEye]

In this video, in the first five minutes, John Solomon talks about being approached in March '17 by two gov employees telling him things in the intel community were way out of whack and he should investigate it. They didn't identify themselves.

John Solomon: FBI Played ‘Political Dirty Trick’ on Donald Trump over Alleged Russia Collusion Judicial Watch - May 6, 2019

[vette6387]

“Several months ago, an FBI source told me that numerous whistleblowers had gone to members of Congress with information about the FBI and the Trump-Russia scandal, only to have congressional leaders turn their names over to the Department of Justice. “

It would be really nice to know just which of our “legislators” did this! I’ve about come to the conclusion that the only way Congress returns to a functional body is for 100% turnover. We would be better off with 535 people picked at random out of the phone book in each district.

[dragnet2]

Several months ago, an FBI source told me that numerous whistleblowers had gone to members of Congress with information about the FBI and the Trump-Russia scandal, only to have congressional leaders turn their names over to the Department of Justice. True or not, this was the word on the street

So if a group of FBI agents goes public with hard evidence such as documentary evidence, etc, what are they going to do to them after the fact? If 20 of them come forward in a very public way, with hard evidence, what are they going to do, fire them all and then kill them after they've gone public? I would guess that would be highly unlikely and extremely risky for the players being exposed.

[gaijin]

One of maybe 20 REAL journalists in the USA today:

[dragnet2]

Several months ago, an FBI source told me that numerous whistleblowers had gone to members of Congress

And why go to the corrupt Congress of all places? Why not something like Wikileaks as a go between, or FOX news etc?

[gaijin]

TWO SYSTEMS

FULL PENSION, NO JAIL TIME

[Jeff Chandler]

That’s funny. The intelligence community did’t seem to have a shortage of malicious leakers during W Bush’s presidency.

[Will88]

A year or more ago, a story floated around about a dozen or so FBI agents who wanted to testify before a congressional committee, but terms we’re never worked out to the agents satisfaction. It never sounded as if any committee made much effort.

[JoSixChip]

How Attorney General Barr could change the federal culture of corruption in 60 days

Appoint a special council. The doj/fbi have more then shown they are not capable of investigating themselves. If barr does not appoint a SC, it shows he is not serious about investigating the investigators. I say this knowing full well barr won't do it.

[aquila48]

“Logically, there should be few legitimate objections. All should be able to get behind a relatively simple plan to root out corruption and wrongdoing in our federal agencies.”

Truly naive on Sharyl’s part. The ones most against this would be the people at the highest level of power, where most of the corruption originates.

[atc23]

Counsel

[Major Matt Mason]

So it's no surprise that, even though I believe the federal government is populated with mostly good people, they tend to keep their mouths shut and go along.

It's doubtful that even 25%-30% of the federal workforce are "good people". It isn't just the politicians that are corrupt.