General Discussion

spanone

(135,844 posts) Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:15 PM Oct 2019

Is trump breaking the law by intimidating the Whistleblower?

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 is a law that protects federal government employees in the United States from retaliatory action for voluntarily disclosing information about dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government organization.

This law, sometimes called the WPA, also prohibits a federal agency from taking action or threatening to take action against an employee or applicant for disclosing information that he or she believes violated a law, compliance rule or another regulation. The disclosed information could include reports of management wrongdoing,
the waste of funds, an abuse of authority, and a potential risk to public health or safety.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has jurisdiction over allegations of federal whistleblower retaliation and investigates federal whistleblower complaints.

https://searchcompliance.techtarget.com/definition/Whistleblower-Protection-Act

18 replies

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Highlight:

Is trump breaking the law by intimidating the Whistleblower? (Original Post) spanone Oct 2019 OP

It has seemed to me that intimidation is the only reason underpants Oct 2019 #1

Yes, liking the WB to a traitor or spy is at minimum retaliation uponit7771 Oct 2019 #2

they just asked this question on cnn....they seemed to think it would take an actual threat.... spanone Oct 2019 #6

Legally it does not, any kind of negative action would be taken as retaliation against the WB. It... uponit7771 Oct 2019 #11

I agree. I know nothing of law, but the president's anger carries a lot of weight. spanone Oct 2019 #12

👍🏼 uponit7771 Oct 2019 #13

IMO yes, and not just the whistleblower but all of his/her sources Mike 03 Oct 2019 #3

At this point, it seems to me the real question to ask is; Dyedinthewoolliberal Oct 2019 #4

Duh! malaise Oct 2019 #5

there is a specific law covering just this very thing....The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 spanone Oct 2019 #7

It seems rather obvious. kentuck Oct 2019 #8

Most of what Teflon Don does breaks or circumvents the law Jeffersons Ghost Oct 2019 #9

Agreed, but he's doing this one live in real-time....on twitter & teevee spanone Oct 2019 #10

Yes, he is. H2O Man Oct 2019 #14

If Breitbart releases the name can they be charged? zooks Oct 2019 #15

Great question! H2O Man Oct 2019 #17

Thanks for the reply. zooks Oct 2019 #18

Yes, but he pretty much breaks the law on a daily basis and it hardly gets noticed anymore. Vinca Oct 2019 #16

underpants

(182,826 posts)

1. It has seemed to me that intimidation is the only reason

Reply to spanone (Original post)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:17 PM

Oct 2019

other than filling airtime on RW news.

uponit7771

(90,347 posts)

2. Yes, liking the WB to a traitor or spy is at minimum retaliation

Reply to spanone (Original post)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:20 PM

Oct 2019

spanone

(135,844 posts)

6. they just asked this question on cnn....they seemed to think it would take an actual threat....

Reply to uponit7771 (Reply #2)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:24 PM

Oct 2019

uponit7771

(90,347 posts)

11. Legally it does not, any kind of negative action would be taken as retaliation against the WB. It...

Reply to spanone (Reply #6)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:37 PM

Oct 2019

... doesn't have to be an employment action if its done by supervisors.

spanone

(135,844 posts)

12. I agree. I know nothing of law, but the president's anger carries a lot of weight.

Reply to uponit7771 (Reply #11)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:39 PM

Oct 2019

uponit7771

(90,347 posts)

13. 👍🏼

Reply to spanone (Reply #12)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:41 PM

Oct 2019

Mike 03

(16,616 posts)

3. IMO yes, and not just the whistleblower but all of his/her sources

Reply to spanone (Original post)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:21 PM

Oct 2019

who he called spies that should be executed for treason. He's also intimidating future whistleblowers and anyone who might come forward out of conscience.

Dyedinthewoolliberal

(15,577 posts)

4. At this point, it seems to me the real question to ask is;

Reply to spanone (Original post)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:23 PM

Oct 2019

when is Trump NOT breaking the law?

malaise

(269,054 posts)

5. Duh!

Reply to spanone (Original post)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:23 PM

Oct 2019

ITTMF RFN!

spanone

(135,844 posts)

7. there is a specific law covering just this very thing....The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989

Reply to malaise (Reply #5)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:26 PM

Oct 2019

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, 5 U.S.C. 2302(b)(8)-(9), Pub.L. 101-12 as amended, is a United States federal law that protects federal whistleblowers who work for the government and report the possible existence of an activity constituting a violation of law, rules, or regulations, or mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority or a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety. A federal agency violates the Whistleblower Protection Act if agency authorities take (or threaten to take) retaliatory personnel action against any employee or applicant because of disclosure of information by that employee or applicant.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistleblower_Protection_Act

kentuck

(111,102 posts)

8. It seems rather obvious.

Reply to spanone (Original post)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:27 PM

Oct 2019

If we can see around the deflections and the distractions.

Jeffersons Ghost

(15,235 posts)

9. Most of what Teflon Don does breaks or circumvents the law

Reply to spanone (Original post)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:32 PM

Oct 2019

spanone

(135,844 posts)

10. Agreed, but he's doing this one live in real-time....on twitter & teevee

Reply to Jeffersons Ghost (Reply #9)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:34 PM

Oct 2019

H2O Man

(73,559 posts)

14. Yes, he is.

Reply to spanone (Original post)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:42 PM

Oct 2019

Recommended.

zooks

(308 posts)

15. If Breitbart releases the name can they be charged?

Reply to H2O Man (Reply #14)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:55 PM

Oct 2019

H2O Man

(73,559 posts)

17. Great question!

Reply to zooks (Reply #15)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 04:00 PM

Oct 2019

I'm not sure if they can hide behind Amendment 1. I'm trying to find out. The only response I have thus far is that the person leaking the name can be charged. This makes it essential we take the White House in 2020. Let the Breitbart staff rot in Judith Miller's jail cell.

zooks

(308 posts)

18. Thanks for the reply.

Reply to H2O Man (Reply #17)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 04:08 PM

Oct 2019

Vinca

(50,278 posts)

16. Yes, but he pretty much breaks the law on a daily basis and it hardly gets noticed anymore.

Reply to spanone (Original post)

Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:58 PM

Oct 2019

I'm really concerned for the WB's safety if his name and address get out. Trump's goon squad includes such brilliant types as the one who turned up at the pizza parlor with a weapon to investigate child trafficking out of the nonexistent basement. They've probably got a bounty on the WB's head.

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