Grassley Welcomes Resolution for 10 FBI Whistleblowers Following Years of Retaliation

BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA –Ten Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) whistleblowers have secured compensation agreements with the FBI after months of negotiations mediated by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). The whistleblowers, including Garret O’Boyle and Stephen Friend, were subjected to demotions, security clearance revocation and indefinite unpaid administrative leave as a result of reporting waste, fraud and abuse during the last administration. The 10 agreements collectively rectify over 12 years’ worth of inappropriate suspension time the FBI dealt against the whistleblowers.
“Whistleblowers risk it all for the sake of simply telling the truth. These 10 whistleblowers’ brave actions were met with intense bureaucratic blowback that caused severe financial and emotional hardship. Their lives were upended for years, but I never stopped fighting until things were made right,”Grassley said.“I appreciate Attorney General Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Blanche, Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino’s unyielding efforts to prioritize accountability and bring closure to these whistleblowers’ cases. My door remains open to all whistleblowers, and I’ll continue to protect and defend them from retaliation. There is more work to be done.”
Grassleywroteto Bondi and Patel today applauding their efforts as “an example of government power and authority being used for good.”
Details on the settlement agreements were provided to Grassleyin a letterfrom the whistleblowers’ lawyers. Per Empower Oversight:

“Each of the agreements differ slightly depending on each employee’s particular situation, case, and circumstances. Of these eight settlement agreements:
“Your leadership and advocacy for whistleblower protections were essential both publicly and behind the scenes. Without your office, these brave whistleblowers would almost certainly not have received a fair hearing,”Empower Oversight concluded in its letter to Grassley.“On behalf of our clients, their families, and the Americans who advocated for them—thank you.”
Background:Grassley hasscrutinizedthe FBI’s repeated practice of suspending whistleblowers’ security clearances and placing them on unpaid administrative leave while the FBI conducts a prolonged internal investigation. This effectively leaves the whistleblower in limbo, without pay or the option to seek alternative employment while their review is ongoing. Grassley introduced the bipartisanFBI Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Actin July to empower FBI whistleblowers facing security clearance suspension and enhance whistleblower protections at the agency.
This is the third round of whistleblower agreements Grassley has helped secure this year, adding to his successful advocacy for twoInternal Revenue Service whistleblowersand threeCustoms and Border Protection whistleblowers. Grassley is the co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus.

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