The DOJ is Creating a Whistleblower Program
On March 7th, the DOJ announced that it would be launching a 90-day sprint to start its own whistleblower rewards program. The Department provided more information in its follow-up speech on March 8th. However, it has still given very little information about what features the program will include, and leaders in the whistleblower and anti-corruption community have some major concerns.
Stephen Kohn, Chairman of the Board of the National Whistleblower Center, sent a letter to the DOJ, wrote an op-ed in Bloomberg, and spoke on Federal News Network to discuss concerns and explain the most important best-practices that should be implemented in the new program.
Whistleblower law firm, Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto LLP is partnering with NWC to campaign for the implementation of best practices in the DOJ whistleblower program. Support our campaign through the three easy steps below!
Three Easy Steps to Help Make this Program Work for Whistleblowers:
- Learn more about the program and how to take action by watching the Whistleblower Chat or Webinar and listening to the Podcast about the DOJ 90-Day Sprint!
- If you live in the U.S., take 30 seconds to send our letter template to DOJ leaders, the Executive Branch, and Congress, explaining why best practices are so important.
- If you are a civil society organization or you work in the anti-corruption field, sign on to our letter to the DOJ from the international anti-corruption community.
The Best Practices We’re Calling for:
- Anonymous and Confidential Reporting Channels: The DOJ must establish anonymous and confidential reporting channels, as mandated by Congress under the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Act of 2020. These channels, consistent with Dodd-Frank programs, are essential for incentivizing high-quality reports and protecting whistleblowers.
- Establishment of a Whistleblower Office: A dedicated whistleblower office, modeled after those at the SEC and CFTC, is imperative for effectively processing anonymous tips, ensuring compliance with anonymity provisions, and coordinating whistleblower disclosures across DOJ components.
- Inclusion of Whistleblowers Involved in Criminal Misconduct: Whistleblowers involved in criminal activity should not be ineligible for awards. Consistent with Dodd-Frank and other successful whistleblower laws, the DOJ must recognize that such whistleblowers can provide valuable information and enhance enforcement efforts.
- Discretionary Administration of Awards: The DOJ should administer awards in a manner consistent with Dodd-Frank, ensuring that qualified whistleblowers receive fair compensation. This includes making awards mandatory, maximizing payments for smaller cases, and providing awards between 10% and 25% of all monies obtained in forfeiture cases.
Watch our Webinar
NWC Executive Director Siri Nelson and Board Chairman Stephen Kohn Co-Hosted a webinar to inform our supporters about the best practices we are calling for in the new DOJ Whistleblower Program. Watch the recording now to learn more and take action below!
