Letter to Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice - Regarding Claims of Discrimination Against Supervisors at the FBI

Letter

The Honorable Michael E. Horowitz
Inspector General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20530

Dear Inspector General Horowitz:

Recently, three female FBI whistleblowers contacted my office. Each one previously worked as a supervisor in FBI offices where their colleagues were predominantly male. These women allege that they suffered gender discrimination and that they were retaliated against when they tried to report these abuses through the Equal Employment Opportunity process or other means. These whistleblowers allege that there are additional female employees at the FBI who have suffered similar abuse, but are reluctant to report due to fear of reprisal.

At today's FBI oversight hearing, FBI Director James Comey was apprised of these allegations and pledged that the Bureau would fully cooperate with any review you might undertake and ensure that there is no further retaliation.1 Please investigate these individual cases and determine whether there might be a pattern or perception of hostility toward women or whistleblowers that the FBI needs to address.

Please have your staff contact my office to make arrangements to contact these women and assess their allegations. Also, I would appreciate a status update on each of the requested investigations by June 23, 2014, including whether your office has decided to initiate an investigation and your rationale for that decision. Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please contact XXX of my Committee staff at (202) 224-5225.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley
Ranking Member

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