| Judge admits voiding whistleblower lawsuit draconian { July 7 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0407070259jul07,1,3292861.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hedhttp://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0407070259jul07,1,3292861.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
ACROSS THE NATION Translator's suit voided; security cited
Items compiled from Tribune news services Published July 7, 2004
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A federal judge threw out a lawsuit Tuesday by a whistle-blower who alleged security lapses in the FBI's translator program, ruling that her claims might expose government secrets that could damage national security.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said he was satisfied with claims by Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft and a senior FBI official that the civil lawsuit by Sibel Edmonds could expose intelligence-gathering methods and disrupt diplomatic relations with foreign governments.
The judge said he couldn't explain because his explanation would expose sensitive secrets.
Edmonds, a former contract linguist for the FBI, said she will appeal the ruling. She alleged in her lawsuit that she was fired in March 2002 after she complained to FBI managers about shoddy wiretap translations and told them of a possible compromise of security.
In his decision, Walton acknowledged that dismissing a lawsuit before the facts of the case can be heard is "Draconian" and said he was throwing out the lawsuit "with great consternation."
Copyright © 2004, Chicago Tribune
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