5 Famous Whistleblower Cases in US

5 Famous Whistleblower Cases In U.s.
History
On behalf of Hennig Ruiz Law Firm posted in Whistleblower Retaliation on Friday, July 8, 2016.
Employees in the public and private sector alike are under numerous obligations to keep the
confidences of their employers. But the history of the last half-century is filled with federal
whistleblowers who felt the public had a right to know their employers' best-kept - and illegal -
secrets.
Here are five of the most famous federal whistleblower cases in U.S. history to help you understand
your own whistleblower rights.
Famous Whistleblower Cases
1. Edward Snowden Publishes Top Secret Documents
Snowden is famous for releasing thousands of documents, including State Department diplomatic
cables, through journalists including Greenwald, who have been publishing them in newspapers for
years. He is now so famous that, according to The New York Times, Snowden will be performing
Shakespeare with actor Daniel Radcliffe-via video uplink, of course.
Snowden is still evading United States government efforts to prosecute him. Meanwhile, the Obama
administration is cracking down on new whistleblower cases. The Department of Justice accuses
Snowden of violating the Espionage Act and stealing government property; the total sentence could
add up to 30 years in prison. So far, Snowden has claimed political asylum, mostly in Russia, to
avoid returning to face prosecution in the U.S.. While the 1998 Intelligence Community
Whistleblowers Act provides some protection for whistleblowers, it may not cover Snowden's case.
2. P.F.C. Chelsea Manning Leaks Classified Data
Chelsea (then Bradley) Manning was a former military intelligence analyst who released thousands
of classified documents, including Afghanistan war logs. A video he released of an American
Apache helicopter crew killing civilians went viral on the web. The documents were released
through WikiLeaks, the whistleblower website run by famous transparency advocate Julian
Assange, who is now taking refuge at the embassy of Ecuador in London.
In Manning's prosecution for violations of the Espionage Act, her defense attorney attempted to
employ the Military Whistleblower Protection Act. The prosecution, on the other hand,
characterized Manning as an "anarchist" rather than a whistleblower. Manning was sentenced to 35
years and dishonorable discharge.
3. Jeffrey Wigand Breaks Confidentiality Agreement
Wigand, former VP of research at tobacco giant Brown and Williamson, exposed the tobacco
industry's knowledge of nicotine addiction on 60 Minutes in 1995. According to CNN, 60 Minutes
feared tobacco industry litigation over Wigand's confidentiality agreement, and delayed airing the
interview until the following year. Today, Wigand might have been covered by the Defend Trade
Secrets Act of 2016 which provides whistleblower protection to defendants who disclose trade
secrets to government agents.
4. Mark Felt (a.k.a. "Deepthroat") Leaks Watergate Secrets
Mark Felt was the FBI agent who helped Washington Post reporters Woodward and Bernstein
investigate the Watergate case. He was able to keep his role in the leak secret for thirty years.
When President Nixon found out about the leak, he wanted to punish Felt, but the Department of
Justice didn't believe Felt had committed a crime. Today, Felt might be covered by the Intelligence
Community Whistleblowers Act of 1998.
5. Mark Whitacre Becomes Industry Whistleblower
As discussed in The Decatur Herald & Review, Whitacre was head of the BioProducts division at
Archer Daniels Midland when he leaked information on price-fixing of lysine to the FBI. As part of
the investigation, he wore a wire to work for the FBI for three years. Whitacre was never charged
with a crime related to his price-fixing leak (since he was directly helping the FBI). However, he
was later convicted for wire fraud and embezzlement for unrelated activity at ADM, for which he
served over eight years in prison.
Whistleblower Retaliation Laws: For Further Reading
 AB 1509 Means New Protections for California Whistleblowers in 2016

 General Information About Whistleblowing and Retaliation via Workplace Fairness
 'Qui Tam' Whistleblowers: Important Facts You Should Know
 What California Employees Should Know About Whistleblower Retaliation
 Whistleblower Protection Program via The United States Department of Labor
Both California and federal laws can often protect individuals who participate in whistleblower
activities. If you feel your employer unlawfully retaliated against you due to whistleblowing,
contact the expert California whistleblower retaliation attorneys at Hennig Ruiz for a free
consultation today.

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5 Famous Whistleblower Cases In U.s.

Famous Whistleblower Cases

1. Edward Snowden Publishes Top Secret Documents

2. P.F.C. Chelsea Manning Leaks Classified Data

3. Jeffrey Wigand Breaks Confidentiality Agreement

4. Mark Felt (a.k.a. "Deepthroat") Leaks Watergate Secrets

5. Mark Whitacre Becomes Industry Whistleblower

Whistleblower Retaliation Laws: For Further Reading

 AB 1509 Means New Protections for California Whistleblowers in 2016

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