In the ongoing investigation into the two assassination attempts against former President Trump, members of the Republican political party are demanding transparency regarding the protection of individuals who blow the whistle on wrongdoing.
Senators Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, and Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, expressed their concern in a letter that they sent to Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The letter was written after whistleblowers disclosed that employees of the Secret Service were required to sign nondisclosure agreements at the time.
In order to gain access to briefings on “sensitive reporting” that were pertinent to their work to protect former President Trump, the whistleblowers claimed that they were required to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
Examples of screenshots that were sent to Secret Service agents and asked them to sign a non-disclosure agreement were included in the letter that was sent to Mayorkas.
The senators are now requesting that the Department of Homeland Security disclose the extent of the non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and whether or not employees were required to sign anti-gag language that is mandated by statute.
During the course of their correspondence, the senators made reference to the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA).
The WPEA specifically stipulates that “no federal agency nondisclosure policy, form, agreement, or related documents may be implemented or enforced if it does not contain specific language notifying the employee of their rights to disclose waste, fraud, abuse, or misconduct to Congress, an Inspector General, or the Office of Special Counsel (OSC).”
Related Document :- grassley_johnson_to_dhs_-_nondisclosure_agreements
Additionally, they requested that the agency disclose the manner in which the requirement altered and affected the protective details of presidential candidate Donald Trump and any other government officials.
Senators brought attention to the fact that the Department of Homeland Security should be transparent about the rights of whistleblowers.
“The importance of whistleblowers knowing their rights under the law cannot be stated enough, and federal agencies should encourage their employees to disclose allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse through all appropriate channels,” according to the researchers. “Federal agencies cannot conceal their wrongdoing behind illegal non-disclosure policies and related actions.”
