Whistleblower News From The Inside -- February 6, 2017
By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team
Grassley Pitches Trump on Whistleblowers – Last week Senator Chuck Grassley joined two Congressmen in penning a letter to the White House highlighting legal protections for communication with the legislative branch. Senator Grassley was seeking to alert the White House to the fact that whistleblowers are a positive thing and should not be hindered in their efforts to bring information to Congress’ attention. Senator Claire McCaskill expressed doubts that the Trump administration will heed Senator Grassley’s advice about protecting whistleblowers. Roll Call
SEC Targeting Investment Adviser Fraud – On February 2, 2017, the SEC charged an investment advisory business and its owner with stealing at least $3.9 million from investors. In a recent speech the director of the SEC Office of compliance Inspections and Examinations stated that staffing in the investment advisors examination program has increased 20%. This development could lead to more SEC whistleblowers coming forward with information regarding the practices of investment advisers that could lead to large enforcement actions. National Law Review
Trump and Congress May Make it easier to Get Drugs Approved – Even if They Don’t Work – A former whistleblower who last year exposed Genentech’s encouragement of a cancer drug that helped only a limited population of people but was prescribed to many people says that de-regulation of the FDA approval process may lead to more cases. The FDA is determining how to comply with the 21st Century Cures Act, a law that hastens approval of drugs. The former whistleblower warns that FDA approval does not mean a drug works and that the development of drugs must be closely monitored. LA Times