In a significant development, two Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) whistleblowers, Garret OBoyle and Steve Friend, have been reinstated alongside fellow whistleblower Zachery Schoffstall.
This reinstatement follows a settlement agreement reached by President Donald Trumps administration with a group of 10 whistleblowers. Their reinstatement marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding the treatment of whistleblowers within federal agencies.
As reported by American Military News, OBoyle and Friend faced suspension from the FBI after providing testimony to Congress. Their testimonies highlighted concerns about the political weaponization of the agency during the tenure of former President Joe Biden.
According to The New York Post, these whistleblowers revealed that the FBI had been surveilling conservative American parents who voiced their concerns at school board meetings. Additionally, they alleged inappropriate collaborations between the FBI and Bank of America.
The Post Millennial further detailed these claims, underscoring the gravity of the accusations against the agency.
In 2023, OBoyle expressed his dismay to congressional lawmakers, stating, I am sad, I am disappointed, and I am angry that I have to be here to testify about the weaponization of the FBI and DOJ.
His testimony was a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by those who dare to speak out against powerful institutions. OBoyle, a former U.S. Army serviceman turned police officer and FBI special agent, asserted that he was wrongfully suspended and unjustly labeled as a malcontent and subpar FBI employee. He further lamented,
They see what becomes of whistleblowers; how the FBI destroys their careers, suspends them under false pretenses, takes their security clearances and pay with no true options for real recourse.
Friend, another whistleblower, experienced similar repercussions. The New York Post reported that his security clearance was revoked, and he was suspended without pay after raising concerns about the FBIs handling of January 6 cases, particularly the deployment of SWAT teams under the Biden administration.
The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, in a Tuesday press release, announced that 10 FBI whistleblowers had reached compensation agreements with the agency. These negotiations were facilitated by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).
The committee highlighted the severe consequences faced by these whistleblowers, including demotions, security clearance revocations, and indefinite unpaid administrative leave, all for reporting waste, fraud, and abuse during the previous administration.
Grassley emphasized the courage of these individuals, stating, Whistleblowers risk it all for the sake of simply telling the truth. These 10 whistleblowers brave actions were met with intense bureaucratic blowback that caused severe financial and emotional hardship. Their lives were upended for years, but I never stopped fighting until things were made right.
The successful settlement with the Trump administration has paved the way for the reinstatement of OBoyle, Friend, and Schoffstall at the FBI. Journalist Breanna Morello celebrated the news on Twitter, acknowledging the efforts of Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, Empower Oversight, and Senator Chuck Grassley in facilitating this outcome.
The reinstatement of these whistleblowers serves as a testament to the enduring fight for truth and accountability within federal institutions.
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