Whistleblower News From The Inside — May 31, 2016

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team

 Former US Attorney Eric Holder says Snowden performed a public service — Holder says the former NSA whistleblower “performed a ‘public service’ by setting off a national debate over global surveillance, but that the fugitive must still face the ‘consequences’ for leaking classified information.  CSM

Senate investigation finds “systemic” failures at VA watchdog — “A Senate investigation of poor health care at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Tomah, Wis., found systemic failures in a VA inspector general’s review of the facility that raise questions about the internal watchdog’s ability to ensure adequate health care for veterans nationwide.”  USA Today

Trial involving 2 whistleblower cops threatens to expose code of silence — “Chicago police Officers Shannon Spalding and Daniel Echeverria say they risked their careers — and possibly their lives — exposing a team of dirty cops who ran their own criminal fiefdom at a South Side housing complex.”  Chicago Tribune

Corruption still a global blight after all these years — “The World Bank estimates that more than $1 trillion is paid in bribes annually throughout the world and the World Economic Forum puts the annual global cost of corruption at more than 5% of the world’s total GDP.”  Forbes

Lionel Messi’s tax fraud trial opens in Barcelona — The Argentina soccer star is accused of defrauding Spain of more than four million euros.  France24

Fired clerk says she’s vindicated by whistleblower retaliation verdict — A jury awarded former Clatsop County, Oregon clerk Kennedy Grimes $400,000 for being fired for disclosing information she believed was evidence of the county violating the law, mismanagement, wasting funds and abusing authority.  Register Guard