Say Anything Blog

WASHINGTON—The second-in-command at the government’s top whistle-blower office has quit in a dispute with his boss, whom he accused of putting “political agendas and personal vendettas” ahead of the agency’s mission and independence.

James Byrne’s resignation as deputy to U.S. Special Counsel Scott Bloch is effective Saturday. Bloch is under federal investigation, accused of destroying evidence potentially showing he retaliated against his own staff.

Upon my departure, I am obligated to note that the mission, independence and very existence of the Office of Special Counsel are—and shall remain—at risk unless and until this agency is afforded a presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed leader who is capable of putting OSC’s mission and OSC’s people ahead of political agendas and personal vendettas,” Byrne, the deputy special counsel, wrote in a July 10 letter to Bloch that was obtained by The Associated Press.

...A group of current and former agency workers filed a complaint against Bloch in 2005, accusing him of retaliating with intimidation and involuntary transfers of those who opposed his policies.

...FBI and White House Office of Personnel Management agents raided Bloch’s office and home in May as part of a criminal investigation into whether he obstructed justice and, potentially, lied to Congress about hiring an outside tech company to scrub his government laptop computer.

...Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., has joined liberal-leaning watchdog groups in demanding that Bloch resign immediately.