Whistleblower News From The Inside - March 4, 2015

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team

Senate holding hearing today on FBI whistleblowers — The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear testimony from current and former FBI agents and the Executive Director of the National Whistleblower Center describing how FBI whistleblowers are subjected to illegal retaliation, and how the system designed to protect them is “broken.”  GAP

FBI bluntly told a potential whistleblower that he could face retaliation – Just in time for the Senate hearings, an email surfaces in which an attorney at the FBI tells a potential whistleblower coming forward with information “does not guarantee that you will not be retaliated against, even though retaliation/reprisal for making protected disclosures is illegal.”  Washington Times

DOJ statement on Petraeus plea deal – Statement says former CIA Director David Petraeus was charged with one count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material, reaching a plea deal indicating he will plead guilty to that charge. DOJ

Thomas Drake has harsh words for Petraeus plea — NSA whistleblower Drake denounced the plea bargain reached by Petraeus and federal prosecutors, calling it a “slap on the wrist” for illegal actions that “served no public good.” Politico

HSBC whistleblower says management knew of problem — Herve Falciani said he can provide “logical proof” that management at British-based HSBC was aware of the problems that have now provoked a flurry of investigations, though he added he does not have “documents signed by top management.” International Business Times

Apple Pay fraud rampant? — Some banks are witnessing a growing incidence of fraud on Apple Inc.’s mobile-payment service as criminals exploit vulnerabilities in the verification process banks follow when users add a credit card to the service, according to people familiar with the matter.  WSJ