CIA Whistleblower Attorney (January Update)

If You Have Information About Misconduct at the CIA, We Can Protect You While Helping You Come Forward

The CIA is the nation’s top foreign intelligence agency. Its role is vital for protecting our nation’s security; and, as a result, it plays a role in all Americans’ day-to-day lives. The agency is frequently mentioned in the news due to its critical function within the intelligence community. Integrity is central to the CIA’s mission. When CIA agents or top officials go beyond the scope of their authority, their actions can compromise both the Agency’s work and the American public’s confidence in its commitment to their protection.

As a result, whistleblowers play an equally vital role in protecting the American public. If you have information about misconduct at the Agency, or if you work for the Agency and have information about unlawful practices or conduct, it is important that you speak with a CIA whistleblower lawyer promptly.

Our firm represents CIA whistleblowers nationwide. If you need to come forward, we can guide you through the process while speaking on your behalf. We can protect your identity, and we can work to ensure that you do not face any form of retaliation or retribution as a result of your decision to blow the whistle. While the CIA is a powerful federal agency, it must act within the confines of the law. When it doesn’t, it needs to be held accountable—and we are prepared to do what it takes to make sure this happens.

Work with a Whistleblower Team that Includes Former CIA Director Mike Pompeo

We are privileged to be able to offer CIA whistleblowers the services of former CIA Director, Congressman, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Mike Pompeo joined our firm as Of Counsel in 2023, not long after leaving his post as the nation’s top diplomat. Thanks to his distinguished career at the highest levels of government, Mike Pompeo is extremely well-versed in both the CIA’s operations and the procedures and safeguards that are in place to ensure that the CIA operates and working within its bounds. He is also a staunch advocate for CIA agents who come forward to expose misconduct and crimes committed against the American public.

We are also privileged to offer CIA whistleblowers the services of former Congressman Trey Gowdy. Our firm’s other whistleblower lawyers include former U.S. Attorneys, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) trial lawyers. Our team also includes non-lawyer consultants who previously served as Special Agents with the U.S. Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other federal agencies. As a result, we truly understand the CIA’s operations (and the limits on its authority) from all angles, and we are able to use this understanding to provide effective representation to whistleblowers both within and outside of the Agency.

Put our highly experienced team on your side

Dr. Nick Oberheiden

Founder

Attorney-at-Law

Lynette S. Byrd

Former DOJ Trial Attorney

Partner

Brian J. Kuester

Former U.S. Attorney

Hon. Kevin McCarthy

55th Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives (ret.)

Government Consultant

Mike Pompeo

Of Counsel

Former U.S. Secretary of State

John W. Sellers

Former Senior DOJ Trial Attorney

Linda Julin McNamara

Federal Appeals Attorney

Nicholas B. Johnson

Former Prosecutor

Roger Bach

Former Special Agent (DOJ)

Chris J. Quick

Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)

Michael S. Koslow

Former Supervisory Special Agent (DOD-OIG)

Ray Yuen

Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)

Understanding the Vital Role of CIA Whistleblowers in Our Government and Society

While it is essential that the CIA is able to conduct covert operations and operate largely without the confines of scrutiny from other federal agencies, it is also essential that the CIA does not overreach. When the CIA does overreach, the consequences can be substantial—not only for the Agency itself, but also for the American public at large. Likewise, when other federal authorities violate the law, it will often be personnel within the CIA who are in the best position to come forward and ensure accountability.

Three of the most significant whistleblower cases in recent U.S. history have involved the CIA. While our firm did not provide representation in these cases, they are notable for the scope and nature of the allegations involved:

Example #1: CIA Whistleblower Files Complaint Regarding President Trump’s Ukraine Call

A whistleblower inside the CIA was responsible for reporting then-President Trump’s July 25, 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The now-infamous phone call led to an impeachment inquiry and a 300-page report from the House Intelligence Community which concluded that:

“President Trump, personally and acting through agents within and outside of the U.S. government, solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, to benefit his reelection. In furtherance of this scheme, President Trump conditioned official acts on a public announcement by the new Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of politically-motivated investigations, including one into Joe Biden, one of Trump’s domestic political opponents. In pressuring President Zelenskyy to carry out his demand, President Trump withheld a White House meeting desperately sought by the Ukrainian President, and critical U.S. military assistance to fight Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine.”

The CIA whistleblower’s report also led to an investigation by the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), which concluded that the Trump Administration violated the federal Impoundment Control Act by improperly withholding aid from Ukraine.

Example #2: DOJ Attorney Blows the Whistle on CIA “Intelligence Laundering”

Also in 2019, a prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice used his government computer approved for handling classified information to upload screenshots showing that the CIA was involved in an alleged conspiracy to conceal the fact that the Agency was the source of information used to prosecute domestic drug crimes. As reported by The New Yorker, “[h]e realized that C.I.A. officers and F.B.I. agents, in violation of federal law and Department of Justice guidelines, had concealed the information’s origins from federal prosecutors, leaving judges and defense lawyers in the dark.”

This practice, referred to as “intelligence laundering,” violates federal law and infringes upon criminal defendants’ constitutional rights. Notably, CIA officials reportedly attempted to prevent the DOJ attorney from disclosing what he had found. In an interview with The New Yorker, the attorney stated, “I knew that I had to get the electronic evidence to outside investigators. . . . There was no doubt about what I needed to do, and there was no doubt retaliation against me would follow.” Nonetheless, he chose to come forward; and, in doing so, he made the right decision for himself, the DOJ, and the nation at large.

Example #3: CIA Whistleblower Alleges Coverup of COVID-19 Origins

On September 12, 2023, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability announced that “a highly credible senior-level CIA officer” had filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that the Agency had taken steps to cover up the likely source of the COVID-19 virus. According to the Committee’s report, the whistleblower’s allegations included:

“[O]f the seven members assigned to the CIA team tasked with analyzing COVID-19 origins, six officers concluded that the virus likely originated from a lab in Wuhan, China. The CIA, then however, allegedly offered financial incentives to six of the experts involved in the investigation to change their conclusion in favor of a zoonotic origin.”

While the government’s investigation remains ongoing, this is obviously a matter not only of significant national importance, but of global concern. This senior-level CIA officer’s willingness to come forward in this scenario has the potential to not only ensure accountability, but also to change how governments around the world respond to pandemics in the future.

What to Expect When You Speak with a CIA Whistleblower Attorney at Oberheiden P.C.

As a potential CIA whistleblower, it is critical to know what you can expect from your legal representation. Here is what you can expect when you choose to work with the CIA whistleblower lawyers at Oberheiden P.C.:

• We will hold all information you share in strict confidence unless and until you decide to come forward.
• We will advise you regarding the collection of any additional information in support of your CIA whistleblower complaint.
• We will protect your identity to the fullest extent possible, and we will work to protect you from retaliation if necessary.
• We will communicate with the DOJ and any other appropriate federal agencies on your behalf if you decide to move forward with blowing the whistle.
• We will be available to you around the clock to answer your questions and advise you regarding any communications you receive from the CIA or other agencies.

Individuals who come forward often turn to a whistleblower law firm because these matters can involve complex federal procedures and serious professional risk. Our team handles False Claims Act litigation, qui tam cases, and other forms of whistleblower litigation, giving clients the benefit of extensive experience across national and international matters. We work closely with those who witness wrongdoing—including international whistleblowers—to help them report fraud, expose violations, and make an informed decision about the safest and most effective path forward. Whether the matter involves the Securities and Exchange Commission, foreign bribery, or misconduct inside the intelligence community, we are equipped to represent whistleblower claims at every stage.

Strong legal representation is equally important for navigating the whistleblower program and securing any potential whistleblower award or financial reward. Our experienced whistleblower lawyers advise clients on preparing whistleblower disclosures, submitting whistleblower information, and protecting their careers in the event of retaliation. We routinely assist in retaliation cases under the whistleblower protection act and coordinate with agencies such as the SEC when required. By guiding clients through each step—from initial evaluation to a possible whistleblower reward—we ensure that those who come forward have the support they need while meeting all requirements imposed under national law.

For many federal whistleblowers, the decision to come forward is shaped by how an agency responds internally. In some matters, a government declined case—where the federal government chooses not to intervene—can still move forward if the allegations and particular facts are strong enough. These situations often arise after an internal investigation fails to resolve serious concerns or when federal employees believe that misconduct has broader national implications. Only a few firm in the country have the background needed to navigate these issues, especially when potential exposure involves sensitive intelligence matters or large-scale wrongdoing that may ultimately involve tens of millions in taxpayer funds.

Because these cases can be complex and risky, our firm offers representation that includes the option of a contingency fee structure in appropriate situations.

FAQs: Hiring a CIA Whistleblower Attorney to Represent You