The Nation - News from June 19, 1985

Seven government whistle-blowers alleged that a federal office meant to protect them has performed erratically at best and, at worst, made them open targets for retaliation by superiors. One of the seven, George R. Spanton, whose audits criticizing a jet engine manufacturer led to the firing of the head of the Defense Contract Audit Agency, told a House panel the special counsel of the Merit Systems Protection Board initially rejected his case before deciding to pursue it. He also said that he was told to get his own lawyer when he requested legal help.