Edmonds sued the Department of Justice in 2002 after
she was fired from her linguist position, alleging
retaliation for reporting what she describes as
“criminal activities committed by government
officials and employees,” some of which an internal
inspector general report corroborated.
According to an unclassified summary of an FBI
inspector general report, “the FBI seems to have
discounted Edmonds’ allegations, believing she was a
disruptive influence and not credible, and eventually
terminated her services.”
Then Attorney General John Ashcroft invoked the State
Secrets Privilege to close the hearing to the public
and gag court proceedings and congressional discourse
on the matter several times, most recently last April,
where a lower court’s dismissal was upheld before the
appeals court.
Ashcroft’s actions both muted Edmond’s claims and
amplified her cause as the media took up the case. The
American Civil Liberties Union is seeking Supreme
Court review.
