REPUBLICANS SAY NEW ATF VIDEO THREATENS WHISTLEBLOWERS

The US Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms agency has issued a new video designed to warn agency whistleblowers not to go outside the chain of command to report illegal activity by the agency. The warning contains a strongly worded caution that there will be consequences. According to some news reports the acting director warned whistle-blowers not to go straight to Congress. Republicans spoke out immediately siting laws prohibiting agencies from threatening retaliation against employees who blow the whistle on illegal or unethical activity. Whistleblower agents have reported that supervisory staff in the ATF and DOJ have been livid over the fact that agents went around them and reported directly to Congress that the government violated the law in the Fast and Furious scandal, and that supervisors did not hesitate to retaliate against the agents who did so. Some are calling for the director to resign.