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Department of Justice Paralegal Whistleblower Fired

By Lynne DeVenny

The Huffington Post is asking, ?As Rove Testifies about Firings, Why did DoJ Fire Whistleblower?? The whistleblower in question is Tamarah Grimes, of Montgomery, Alabama, formerly the ?top in-house paralegal for the prosecution team that won corruption convictions in 2006 against former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat, and HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy.?

Grimes later provided her Justice Department superiors and Congress with evidence that the rights of the defendants were violated. Siegelman and Scrushy cited her revelations heavily in their motions since June 26 for a new trial based on new evidence.

While confirming Grimes? termination, the Justice Department denies violating whistleblower laws and declined to comment further.

Dana Jill Simpson, an Alabama attorney and prominent whistleblower says she admires Grimes, even though she?s never met her. "I think that woman's a hero. She came forward knowing she was going to get fired in all likelihood. Isn't it amazing that the big-shots who sent innocent people to prison around the country are still on the government payroll?"

Roger Shuler, a blogger at Legal Schnauzer, published the following excerpt from Ms. Grimes? press release about her termination:

It is my hope that any federal employee who may be considering a decision to engage in protected EEO or whistleblower activity under the 'No Fear Act' will learn from my example. In reality, there is much to fear from filing an EEO claim or a whistleblower claim under the 'No Fear Act,' and there are no 'safe conduits' for making such claims. Ultimately there is little value in the performance of your duty as a federal employee, or even as a loyal citizen of the United States, if the result is loss of your security clearance and termination of your federal employment. The knowledge that you have admirably performed your duties as a federal employee cannot pay the mortgage or buy food for your family when you are rewarded with whistleblower retaliation.

For more information about Grimes? disclosures of prosecutorial misconduct, ?including what appears to be extensive and unusual contact between the prosecution and the jury?, see TIME?s November 2008 article, ?More Allegations of Misconduct in Alabama Government Case.?

Full post as published by Practical Paralegalism on July 09, 2009 (boomark / email).