From WSAZ:
A decade after first sounding the alarm about an alleged scheme to defraud the Social Security Administration over disability claims, Jennifer Griffith and Sarah Carver are now speaking out.
In 2011, Griffith and Carver filed a whistleblower lawsuit against attorney Eric Conn, former Social Security Administrative Judge David Daugherty and Psychologist Dr. Alfred Adkins ...
Despite the arrests, both Griffith and Carver say the current indictments aren't enough. ...
"I do think there should be more people because there were more people within the agency that were allowed to either retire early or were promoted," Sarah Carver said. "Several of the managers that were in management throughout this time that this was all going on, several were still there or have received major promotions. It's the lack of accountability that I feel is an issue."
After exposing this scheme, Griffith and Carver say they were harassed while still working at the Huntington Social Security office by their superiors and even their own fellow co-workers....
Carver says during the investigation, she was forced to work in a room by herself at the Social Security office eight hours a day for 10 months. She says during that time, Eric Conn and others hired a private investigator to follow her around, in hopes of getting her fired from her job....
8 comments:
Her union rep was where?
No need to worry about those involved being punished. Everyone who was actively involved in this at SSA, whether active or retired, will be called before a congressional committee where their dignity and reputations will be shredded.
As examples, I cite the Bernie Madoff hearing and the more recent Flint Michigan hearing.
Additionally, I think the 60 Minutes program may do a follow up story.
Trouble is this is NOT the only wrongdoing SSA/ODAR is involved where the standard operating procedure for managers at the highest levels is to engage in cover up and promote and give huge bonuses to those who will do so.
I am aware of cases where top Agency officials have been provided the results of criminal and misconduct investigations performed by SSA-OIG, DOJ,FBI, US MARSHAL'S OFFICE and other reliable authorities, and Agency officials undertake to cover up, shove it under the rug and not only protect the employees implicated, but promote them and give them bonuses.
This is really going on folks at unprecedented levels, there is absolutely no accountability and unless DOJ formally decides to criminally prosecute, which is not feasible in every situation, these employees get off scot free and there is no mechanism to force the Agency to take any disciplinary action. This has to change, and I urge Congress to pass legislation which would no longer allow Agency officials to refuse to hold employees accountable when presented with investigative results which confirmed the guilt.
Further, many other employees careers and entire lives are usually thrown under the bus and destroyed by the actions of the corrupt Agency officials who are in the power positions to make these personnel decisions. For example, employees who have been targets or victims of criminal and illegal misconduct by coworkers are often railroaded by these corrupt Agency officials, and unless the court's and legal system are able to protect them in some fashion, they lack the power to do so themselves, and this is often the case when they have union representation.
The problem with recent Congressional focus making it easier to fire Federal employees is the corruption which permeates among those at the top who have firing authority.
Further, many other employees careers and entire lives are usually thrown under the bus and destroyed by the actions of the corrupt Agency officials who are in the power positions to make these personnel decisions. For example, employees who have been targets or victims of criminal and illegal misconduct by coworkers are often railroaded by these corrupt Agency officials, and unless the court's and legal system are able to protect them in some fashion, they lack the power to do so themselves, and this is often the case when they have union representation.
BINGO- case in point. Attorneys advisors in Iowa was it who faced civil fines back in 2005-2007 for following ALJ orders. Very stupid indeed. Senior attorney adjudicator program dismantled after West Virginia fiasco under the pretense that their quality went down with no facts or figures to back it up. NAT replaces it with people who have never adjudicated cases before hence a clean slate to save face. Oh they think they are so coy.
Filing grievances for the people who doing the harassing of course. Worthless Union slugs.
Why no management indictments? Continuing to get away with harassment and retaliation of employees who speak out about systemic problems discourages other employees from coming forward and reinforces management's perspective that abusive behavior is supported. Is it?
Yes, this is the problem. There is NO accountability, and as the law stands now, Agency heads do not have to take any action, even when presented with implicating evidence from investigative authorities. If DOJ decides the situation is not feasible to prosecute in court outside the Agency, the wrongdoers are not otherwise penalized in their jobs, e.g., removed, demoted, suspended for any period, etc., if Agency heads choose not to. Thus, this is why high level Agency heads routinely resort to massive cover up until a particular situation blows over. The Agency heads protect their favorites who engage in illegal and abusive practices by promoting them and giving them huge bonuses, and not uncommonly, choose an innocent employee scapegoat, or two, (not a favorite) to throw under the bus to set an example. Agency heads should not have this power, because they have repeatedly demonstrated they cannot be trusted to hold the actual wrongdoers accountable.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-chief-administrative-law-judge-pleads-guilty-conspiracy-retaliate-against-informant
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