Grassley & Lankford Raised Concerns following Whistleblower Reports
 
WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) today made the following statements after the Justice Department Inspector General (IG) announced findings of reprisal, abuse and lack of candor by senior supervisors in the U.S. Marshals Service office in Oklahoma City.
 
“This case highlights not only the important roles that inspectors general and whistleblowers play in keeping our government accountable, but also the frequent obstruction and reprisal they face.  It is especially disturbing when senior staff at an agency tasked with promoting justice willfully impede internal investigations, punish cooperators, instruct others to break the rules, and then misrepresent the facts when they get called out for all of it.
 
“I’m grateful for the inspector general’s work to get to the bottom of what was happening in the Marshals Service offices in Oklahoma City and for the employees who had to endure reprisal for simply trying to do the right thing.  Unfortunately, poor decisions and a lack of accountability by a number of senior officials at the Marshals Service have demonstrated that the agency is in serious need of a culture shift to restore a reputation of integrity and a clear commitment to justice and fairness. This sort of shift can only come from strong leadership,” Grassley said.
 
"I'm glad the Department of Justice Inspector General has completed a thorough investigation into the U.S. Marshals Service office in Oklahoma City. When there are serious accusations of intimidation and retaliation, it is vitally important that these claims are fully investigated and whistleblowers are protected. I'm glad to see resolution to this matter. Now, Oklahoma leaders and the U.S. Marshals service office must work to ensure that trust and morale is maintained in each office. We are grateful for our federal and local law enforcement as they work to keep our communities and nation safe,” Lankford said.
 
Grassley and Lankford raised concerns after whistleblowers at the Marshals Service claimed that their supervisors retaliated against them for cooperating with an IG investigation.  The IG reviewed these claims and found that three supervisors at the Marshals Service office for the Western District of Oklahoma retaliated against subordinates for their perceived cooperation in the prior IG investigation. 
 
The retaliation included subordinates being pressured to disclose their level of cooperation with the prior IG investigation, restricted work assignments and threats of further retaliation for others who cooperate.  Further, the IG concluded that two of the three supervisors lacked candor when discussing the claims with investigators. The review also found that the U.S. Marshal in that office directed a subordinate to claim travel hours as work hours, in violation of federal regulations and Marshals Service policy. The findings have been referred to the Marshals Service, the Deputy Attorney General and the Office of Special Counsel for further action.
 
Grassley investigated multiple reports of improper hiring, misuse of funds by senior Marshals Service employees over the last two years, and published a report in November detailing the need for greater oversight and whistleblower protections at the agency.  
 
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