We all applaud whistleblowers and anonymous informants who keep cops, businesses, investors, governments, etc., and others honest. Most of what we're reading about the financial scandals was first revealed by whistleblowers, and Abu Ghraib may never have come to light without Sgt. Joseph Darby. I've always believed this is what the Framers had in mind when they ratified the 1st Amendment
I've done a little "anonymous informing" myself over the years, and the resulting exposure of corruption and fraud in my little town has been gratifying. I cannot imagine the thrill in seeing a Tricky Dick or a Blago taken down, but I enjoy watching!
I wanted to encourage everyone who intends to do some anonymous informing—at any level—to be careful, however, when you provide your story, details, and any personal information, even to Federal Prosecutors, who usually try to protect that information. The cautionary tale appears below...
Randall Samborn, spokesman for US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, inadvertently e-mailed documents containing the names of confidential witnesses interviewed during a federal probe targeting the operators of One World Capital Group. According to The Smoking Gun, though the complaint was sealed, apparently the "name key" was not:
In announcing felony charges against two men for their roles in an alleged $15 million Ponziesque swindle, the spokesman for Chicago U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald...e-mailed reporters a 62-page U.S. District Court complaint filed against John Walsh and Charles Martin, principals of the now-defunct One World Capital Group. Included in the document was a one-page key that identified by name sources referred to in the complaint only by monikers such as "Employee A," "Customer D," or "Individual F."
This prompted an immediate, urgent e-mail from Samborn, requesting that the media destroy all copies of the complaint. The fact that TSG has a copy on their website, albeit redacted, is concerning, especially to the witnesses named under the One World Employees group. I'm watching the web to see when the unedited copy shows up.
Add to that the pressure reporters and bloggers are facing to sacrifice anonymous sources (these defendants, whether prevailing or not, still had the financial burden of defending themselves), and the environment is becoming murky and toxic to exercising 1st Amendment rights.
Perhaps this will all change when an adult Department of Justice replaces the Regent "University" toddlers currently occupying the offices at 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, but I don't think we who are watching (and calling out) government, businesses, law enforcement, etc., should wait.
What's a civic-minded citizen to do?
There's no single set of suggestions for "anonymous informants and whistleblowers" to follow, but the Government Accountability Project's Twelve Survival Strategies, though aimed at government whistleblowing, are very good guidelines for any kind of anonymous informing. I have found number 4 to be very instructive (remember W. Mark Felt!):
Develop a plan-such as strategically-timed release of information to government agencies-so that your employer is reacting to you, instead of vice-versa.
I am sure the Kossack comunity will have more, and I look forward to reading (and saving) them!
Be vigilant, be watchful, and be careful!