A private watchdog group vowed to defy a federal auditor's demand that it turn over all the complaints it has collected from would-be Veterans Affairs whistle-blowers.
“They’re barking up the wrong tree,” Project on Government Oversight spokesman Joe Newman told FoxNews.com. “It’s not something we’re going to do. We’ve never revealed a whistle-blower’s name and we won’t do it in this case. We’ve been subpoenaed before.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ inspector general made the demand in a May 30 subpoena, shortly after FoxNews.com reported that POGO was collecting tips and information on alleged abuse and mismanagement at VA medical facilities. The VA subpoena demands all records the nonpartisan, independent watchdog has received from current or former VA employees pertaining to “wait times, access to care, and/or patient scheduling issues” at VA facilities in Phoenix or elsewhere. The group’s spokesman, however, told FoxNews.com that it will not be complying with the order.
POGO Executive Director Danielle Brian and attorney Scott Amey wrote in a letter to Acting VA Inspector General Richard Griffin that the group does not plan to provide the requested documents by a June 13 deadline, citing its freedom of speech, press and association rights as they related to whistle-blowers.
“Moreover, complying with the administrative subpoena would undercut and harm the very purpose for which POGO was founded and functions,” Brian and Amey wrote in a letter dated Monday. “POGO’s good government advocacy and investigative reporting activities and our ability to persuade whistle-blowers to reach out to our organization are values protected by the First Amendment.”Read the rest of the story HERE.
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