A nonprofit whistleblower watchdog group is calling on the inspector general for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release the findings of an investigation into an FBI retaliation case settled last week.
On Friday, the FBI reinstated the security clearance of whistleblower Marcus Allen, a Marine combat veteran who was suspended without pay for more than two years. Allen’s clearance was revoked over making protected disclosures related to FBI Director Christopher Wray’s testimony following the turmoil on Jan. 6, 2021. The FBI walked back its retaliation against Allen before the DOJ inspector general released a final report on the improper suspension.
The whistleblower protection group Empower Oversight sent a letter to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz on Tuesday calling on investigators to release their findings despite Allen’s settlement with the FBI.
“For 27 months, Mr. Allen and his family had to survive on early withdrawals from their retirement accounts in order to continue administratively challenging the FBI’s improper revocation of his security clearance,” Empower Oversight President Tristan Leavitt wrote. “For 13 of those months Mr. Allen also waited on your office to complete and report on its investigation into the FBI’s abuse of the security clearance process to retaliate against him.”
While Allen waited for the inspector general’s office to review his case, the FBI denied his requests to seek other employment or accept public charity. Despite no pay and no duties from the Bureau for more than two years, Allen remained subject to gift rules for public officials under
