Tamarah Grimes, a Justice Department employee who accused Republican prosecutors of misconduct in the case against former Democratic Governor Donald Siegelman of Alabama, was fired last month for what she says was retaliation for her actions back in 2007.

 

Filing her complaints under whistle-blower protection laws, Grimes accused prosecutors of improper communications with jurors, and she claimed U.S. Attorney Leura Canary, a Republican, continued to work on the case even after she promised to recuse herself. Siegelman claimed his trial was politically motivated, as did Richard Scrushy, the former chairman of HealthSouth, who was convicted along with Siegelman on bribery and corruption charges.

 

Last October, the Justice Department under President George W. Bush investigated Grimes’ claims and decided Alabama prosecutors had not “violated any law, rule or regulation” or engaged in mismanagement. But the House Judiciary Committee concluded in its own report the following month that Justice officials had been “one-sided” in their conclusions.

 

The Justice Department under President Barack Obama claims Grimes’ termination had nothing to do with her whistleblower actions.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Did DOJ Retaliate Against Siegelman Whistlblower? (by Scott Horton, Harper’s Magazine)

Justice Department Whistleblower Is Fired in Alabama (Legal Schnauzer)

Justice Dept. Whistle-Blower in Alabama Case Is Fired (by John Schwartz, New York Times)

Siegelman Whisle-Blower Says Firing Was Retaliatory (by Farhan Daredia, Main Justice)

U.S. Attorneys Scandal: Removal of Canary Sought as Paulose Resigns (by Scott Horton, Harper’s Magazine)