FBI whistleblowers testify at House Weaponization Panel despite Democrat delays.

Democrats Disrupt Hearing on Retaliation Against FBI Whistleblowers

During a May 18 hearing on retaliation against three FBI agents-turned-whistleblowers, Democrats on the House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on Weaponization of the Federal Government repeatedly raised parliamentary procedural objections to disrupt the panel. The Democrats were concerned that suspended FBI agent Marcus Allen had talked to Republican members of the subcommittee before the hearing but had declined to do so with Democrats present.

Democrats Demand Access to Transcript

Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands), the ranking member, complained about not having access to a transcript of Allen’s prior conversation. When Plaskett asked subcommittee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for a copy of Allen’s prior comments, Jordan said, “That will be up to Mr. Allen.” Jordan acknowledged having a transcript of Allen’s comments, but he said that because Allen is a whistleblower, he had the right to decide who could receive a copy.

Whistleblowers Suffer Retaliation

The focus of the hearing was supposed to be on the trio of agents: suspended FBI agent Garrett O’Boyle, former FBI agent Steve Friend, and Allen, who is suspended without pay from his duties as a staff operations specialist. All three men claimed whistleblower status, which is supposed to provide immunity from illegal retaliation by FBI officials, but all of them said they have suffered significant abuse as a result of sharing information with Congress.

• The whistleblowers told Congress that FBI officials forced agents to record dealings with accused domestic terrorists as if they represented multiple cases rather than individual cases.
• They also told Congress that the Department of Justice (DOJ) directed surveillance of parents protesting school board policies such as allowing male students who identify as females to use female bathrooms.
• Leavitt testified that FBI whistleblowers have second-class status compared to those in most federal agencies.

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2022 included a provision exempting the FBI from whistleblower obligations.

Despite the Democrats’ objections, the hearing lasted nearly four hours, and subcommittee Democrats argued that Jordan was obligated under House rules to share the Allen transcript with them before the hearing. The issue of access to the transcript was repeatedly raised throughout the hearing.