‘Breakthrough’ bill on punishing retaliators against VA whistleblowers could backfire

The Washington Post: After his complaints about research deception and other corruption at a VA facility in Waco, Tex., “the pressure of hostilities was so intense, my wife and I decided my only options were to quit the VA or deploy to a war zone,” said Tharp, who also is a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve. “At least in Kandahar, Afghanistan, I knew who my enemy was. At the VA, I come back, and it’s been a minefield ever since — and continues.”

Tharp, whose work has been honored by the Air Force Association and the Disabled American Veterans, was deployed to Afghanistan from October 2010 to May 2011. He began his whistleblowing activities in 2009.

Read article