Sibel Edmonds

Sibel Edmonds is a former FBI translator who was fired in March 2002 after she complained to FBI managers about another interpreter who she thought might have been a danger to the United States' security. Edmonds won a trial in 2004 in which she protested against having been fired for whistle-blowing.

The US government invoked the State Secrets Privilege to prevent her from testifying about her claim that the FBI had foreknowledge of Al-Qaeda's attacks against the World Trade Center in a case launched by the families of 600 victims against prominent Saudi officials.

"Publish & Disseminate"

Ms. Edmonds April 22, 2005

Sibel Edmonds has written numerous open letters and essays addressing the events of her past three years. Without violating the gag order placed upon her by then Attorney General John Ashcroft's State Secrets Privilege, she has non-the-less remained in the public eye. She remains steadfast in her demands, that the public and Congress expressly consider the appropriateness, effectiveness, and ultimate insecurity afforded to the United States through keeping a lid upon her information.

In an open letter dated May 14, 2005, Ms. Edmonds outlined her belief, that the reasoning offered in the Governments position, "Reason one: To protect certain diplomatic relations – [not named] Reason two: To protect certain U.S. foreign business relations." does not rise to a level above the need for her information to be viewed and considered by the Congress and public at large. That the "relations" protected, are not in the interest or benefit to the majority of the American people, but rather to serve and protect a small minority. Among this minority she contends, include those who are capable of imposing such a gag order.

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Categories: Whistleblowers