Press release from attorneys for Sibel Edmonds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For additional information contact: Stephen M. Kohn, David K. Colapinto, or Kris Kolesnik, (202) 342-1902
STATEMENT OF THE ATTORNEYS FOR FBI WHISTLEBLOWER SIBEL EDMONDS
Washington, D.C., June 19, 2002. The following statement was released today by Stephen M. Kohn, David K. Colapinto and Michael D. Kohn, the attorneys representing FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds.
"We represent Sibel Edmonds, who is a former translator for the FBI. Prior to her illegal termination, our client reported to FBI management, the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility and DOJ Inspector General that there were serious lapses in the FBI translations unit that is assigned to handle September 11th-related counter-terrorism investigations, there were major breaches in the FBI security program, and that there was other serious national security related misconduct. "This serious FBI misconduct has the potential of undermining its current anti-terrorist efforts and directly threatens national security in the aftermath of September 11th.
"In addition, after being notified of these serious matters by our client in early 2002, FBI senior management failed to take corrective action. Instead the FBI engaged in severe retaliation against our client as part of a cover-up of these serious problems. Among the critical concerns reported by our client are the following:
• FBI employees have on numerous occasions inaccurately translated intelligence information which threatens ongoing investigations related to post-September 11th counter-terrorist investigations and ongoing law enforcement investigations. This is the result of both willful misconduct and incompetence.
• The FBI granted a top-secret security clearance to at least one individual who has had direct association with the target of an ongoing law enforcement investigation.
• The FBI failed to investigate credible allegations of breaches in the FBI security program and that one of its own employees had improper contact with a target of an ongoing law enforcement investigation and whose information was being translated by the very employee who was suspected of having these improper contacts.
• The FBI's failure to take corrective action in response to our client's serious and valid allegations of security breaches has resulted in threats being carried out to the personal safety and security of our client and her family.
"Since our client reported these allegations to the FBI earlier this year the FBI has engaged in an ongoing unethical and illegal cover-up. Only after being pressured by the Senate Judiciary Committee has the FBI apparently finally admitted that our client's major whistleblower concerns have been confirmed. "However, in January and February of this year, when our client first disclosed these major security problems, the FBI failed to properly investigate our client's allegations. She was instructed by high level FBI management not to purse any complaints, and threatened with retaliation if she continued to report wrongdoing.
"When our client persisted in raising her allegations through the chain of command she was subjected to a retaliatory security investigation which resulted in her passing a lie-detector test in early March.
"Shortly after her management learned that our client continued to raise her concerns up the chain of command, (including filing reports with FBI OPR as well as to Dale Watson, FBI Executive Assistant Director for Counter-Terrorism/Counter-Intelligence and James T. Caruso, Deputy Executive Director for Counter-Terrorism/Counter-Intelligence), our client’s employment was terminated on March 22, 2002.
"The front-line of the war on terrorism has been directly undermined by the FBI's failures to act on our client's reports. The FBI failed to promptly correct these problems and instead waged war against its own whistleblower. This is unforgiveable in the post-9/11 world."
. You would not have these issues of dual loyalty with them.