Whistleblowers don’t have the luxury of waiting until they’re out of the woods before blowing the whistle.
Anyone who exposes secretive information or activity deemed illegal, unethical, or wrong cannot count on the issue ever being resolved. Matter of fact, many times more issues may crop up as a result of a whistleblower’s complaints.
Indeed, in the most high profile case ever of a whistleblower, an apparent CIA officer reporting a communication between President Trump and Ukraine’s leader this fall, may end in the president’s impeachment.
Since this complaint was filed that whistleblower’s role has run the gamut from praise to scorn.
However, by now many concur, aside from some congressional Republicans, his identity is irrelevant. Everything in his complaint has been corroborated by a dozen witnesses. The only purpose identifying him now serves is to provide for something bad to happen to him.
Though whistleblowers are often at risk of reprisals or retaliation, state and federal protections are designed to minimize that risk. Yet, those protections are no ironclad guarantee if you blow the whistle on someone or something you will live happily ever after.
We realize the motivations of whistleblowers are not always well intended or even truthful. That’s why investigations are required.
Regardless of what’s discovered through these investigations, the issue highlights the need for whistleblower protections. Whistleblowers — like a free press and auditors — play an essential watchdog role in ensuring government oversight and accountability.
Some might think it unseemly, but law firms advertise to represent employees willing to step forward about fraud, abuse or other illegal acts at workplaces. One major TV network even broadcasts a true crime television program named, what else — “Whistleblower.”
It’s not hard to see why whistleblower protections come under attack. Take your pick — political fallout, profit margins or potential liability in lawsuits, etc.
But without such protections, potential whistleblowers will be too fearful of retaliation to reveal corruption, fraud, government waste or abuse of power.
We urge lawmakers in Congress and the Legislature, as well as the public, to never lose sight of this. It’s also incumbent on the press and all media to tread carefully on disclosures about whistleblowers.
Speaking out about things that raise concerns behind the scenes is never a simple black-and-white matter.
There’s no way to predict the outcome of any whistleblower’s complaint, despite the evidence. In a sense they are truly whistling in the dark.
But defending whistleblower protections is vital to shedding some light on the truth.
