For the past forty years, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has been universally recognized as one of the strongest whistleblower champions in Congress.  He is the architect of the modern-day False Claims Act — which allows whistleblowers to sue fraudsters on behalf of the government — spiriting through key amendments to increase the whistleblower incentives and protections under the statute.  He has been instrumental in passing a slew of other whistleblower legislation too, always on the lookout to broaden their reach and protect them in their quest to help the government police fraud and misconduct.

Staying true to his form, Senator Grassley wasted no time in putting the heat on President Trump and his key appointees to ensure they too embrace the critical role of whistleblowers.  With newly anointed Attorney General Pam Bondi in particular, Grassley made it clear during her confirmation process that his support hinged on her commitment to supporting the False Claims Act.  Once confirmed, he applauded her appointment as “a victory for the rule of law and a promise that safer days are ahead,” largely because of her strong backing of the statute.

Senator Grassley took a similar tack with his approval of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for HHS Secretary, pointing to Kennedy’s support for using whistleblowers and the False Claims Act to protect and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid.  According to Grassley, DOJ and HHS in combination “need to more aggressively go after health care waste, fraud and abuse, and empower and encourage whistleblowers.”  And he feels with Kennedy at the HHS helm, the healthcare agency will do just that.  Indeed, he said Kennedy “seemed to be very enthused about listening to whistleblowers and use of the False Claims Act.”

But where Senator Grassley gave his strongest whistleblower push was to President Trump himself.  Just weeks after Trump took office, Grassley sent him a letter calling on the president “to empower and celebrate whistleblowers,” describing them and their role in the most heroic of terms:

“Whistleblowers are patriots who help identify violations of law, rule, regulation, gross mismanagement, abuses of authority, and threats to public health and safety.  In many circumstances, they do so at risk to their careers, reputation, and even health. . . .  Whistleblowers have exposed waste, fraud, and abuse in just about every industry and agency in this country.  The issues they report have saved billions of taxpayer dollars and countless more through their deterrent effect.”

Grassley’s ultimate ask of the president was a Rose Garden ceremony on Whistleblower Appreciation Day (July 30) “for their courage and sacrifice” and to “send a loud, clear message that our government leaders appreciate the importance of whistleblowers and retaliation will not be tolerated.”  Grassley concluded by urging Trump to “let whistleblowers smell the roses at the White House and bask in the appreciation of a thankful nation well served by their efforts to shine a light on waste, fraud, and abuse.”

Grassley has made this ask of every president since Ronald Reagan and apparently no president has yet acceded to his request.  Whether Trump becomes the first remains to be seen.  Either way, Grassley’s fierce support of whistleblowers provides a powerful demonstration of the bi-partisan backing of whistleblowers that has long existed in this country.  It also strongly suggests DOJ will continue its strong enforcement of the False Claims Act, relying on whistleblowers to lead the charge.

In fact, just yesterday Deputy AG Michael Granston trumpeted how “aggressively” DOJ plans to enforce the False Claims Act in a speech he gave at the Federal Bar Association’s annual qui tam conference in Washington, D.C.  He specifically pointed to whistleblowers as the primary source of new False Claims Act cases.

Constantine Cannon whistleblower partner Gordon Schnell said he is “heartened to hear DOJ take such a vocal stand on its strong support for the False Claims Act and the role of whistleblowers in helping enforce the statute.”  He added that “the critical role of whistleblowers is one of the few issues on which both Republicans and Democrats agree.  Especially these days as President Trump moves to significantly cut agency staff and resources across the board.”

If you would like to learn more about what it means to be a whistleblower, please do not hesitate to contact us.  We will connect you with an experienced member of the Constantine Cannon whistleblower team for a free and confidential consultation.

Read Grassley to Trump and DOJ: We Want Whistleblowers at constantinecannon.com