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Seven things we would never have learnt without whistleblowers Seven things we would never have learnt without whistleblowers
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A Royal Navy submariner has claimed that the UK’s Trident nuclear programme was a “disaster waiting to happen,” seemingly joining the ranks of a rich history of whistleblowers. A Royal Navy submariner's claim that the UK’s Trident nuclear programme is a “disaster waiting to happen” has seemingly placed him in the ranks of whistleblowers who put everything on the line to expose a wider truth.
Seaman William McNeilly’s claims have been strongly denied by the Navy, responding that the fleet operated "under the most stringent safety regime", but the 25-year-old’s allegations throw interest on the turbulent world of whistleblowing. Seaman William McNeilly, whose claims are strongly denied by the Navy, is now being held by police after handing himself in.
Here are seven things we would never have known without whistleblowers: Here are seven other notable whistleblowers - and the stories that might otherwise have remained untold.
Richard Nixon's abuses of presidential power Reuters Richard Nixon's abuses of presidential power
Possibly the most famous case of whistleblowing, In the early 1970s Mark Felt leaked highly classified documents to two young journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein at the Washington Post, in a expose that would become the world-famous Watergate.Possibly the most famous case of whistleblowing, In the early 1970s Mark Felt leaked highly classified documents to two young journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein at the Washington Post, in a expose that would become the world-famous Watergate.
Mr Felt’s disclosures would eventually lead to President Richard Nixon’s resignation, exposing a myriad of political abuses, and triggered what Vanity Fair described in 2005 as “the most serious constitutional crisis since the 1868 impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson”.Mr Felt’s disclosures would eventually lead to President Richard Nixon’s resignation, exposing a myriad of political abuses, and triggered what Vanity Fair described in 2005 as “the most serious constitutional crisis since the 1868 impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson”.
Former US President Richard Nixon gives his farewell speech at the White House after resigning on 9 August 1974 Getty Images Israel’s nuclear programme
Systematic NYPD corruption Mordechai Vanunu, a former Israeli nuclear technician, released details of Israel’s nuclear weapons programme to the Sunday Times in the 1980s. He subsequently spent 18 years in jail (11 years of which were reportedly in solitary confinement) before his release in 2004.
Over 11 years working for the New York City Police Department Frank Serpico – later immortalised by Al Pacino – uncovered widespread evidence of systematic corruption. Reuters Bill Clinton's 'relations' with Monica Lewinsky
Although Mr Serpico attempted for years to work within the system to prevent changes (making himself hugely unpopular within the NYPD) it was a front page New York Times expose in 1970 that prompted an official investigation.
Israel’s nuclear programme
Mordechai Vanunu, a former Israeli nuclear technician, released details of Israel’s nuclear weapons programme to the Sunday Times in the 1980s. He subsequently spent 18 years in jail (allegedly 11 years of which in solitary confinement) before his release in 2004.
‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman’
The affair that almost brought down the White House was partially exposed by whistleblower Linda Tripp who secretly recorded conversation with Monica Lewinsky in 1998.The affair that almost brought down the White House was partially exposed by whistleblower Linda Tripp who secretly recorded conversation with Monica Lewinsky in 1998.
She later told the Office of Independent Counsel that Ms Lewinsky had committed perjury when Ms Lewinsky claimed she had not had an affair with Mr Clinton.She later told the Office of Independent Counsel that Ms Lewinsky had committed perjury when Ms Lewinsky claimed she had not had an affair with Mr Clinton.
Bill Clinton with Monica Lewinsky at a Democratic fundraiser Getty Images British secret service’s failed attempt on Muammar Gaddafi’s life
British secret service’s failed attempt on Muammar Gaddafi’s life MI5 officer David Shayler, along with girlfriend Annie Machon, resigned from the British Secret Service in 1996 to expose information alleging criminal activity by the service.
MI5 officer David Shayler, along with girlfriend Annie Machon, resigned from the British Secret Service to expose information alleging criminal activity by the service.
Among the information – some of which was later upheld in court – Mr Shayler claimed that MI6 was involved in an attempt to kill Gaddafi without the permission of then foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind. The plot allegedly failed but did kill several civilians.Among the information – some of which was later upheld in court – Mr Shayler claimed that MI6 was involved in an attempt to kill Gaddafi without the permission of then foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind. The plot allegedly failed but did kill several civilians.
NSA’s illegal wiretaps EPA NSA’s illegal wiretaps
Although other – better known – whistleblowers also spoke out about the NSA’s (National Security Agency) violations, Russ Trice was the first to do so. Although other – better known – whistleblowers also spoke out about the NSA’s (National Security Agency) violations, Russ Tice was the first to do so.
In 2005 he was the major source for a New York Times expose on the agency’s unconstitutional wiretaps, a piece that later was built on by Edward Snowdon’s extensive revelations.In 2005 he was the major source for a New York Times expose on the agency’s unconstitutional wiretaps, a piece that later was built on by Edward Snowdon’s extensive revelations.
The NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland, USA Corbis Systematic NYPD corruption
AstraZeneca promoted the unapproved drug Seroquel Over 11 years working for the New York City Police Department Frank Serpico – later immortalised by Al Pacino – uncovered widespread evidence of systematic corruption.
Jim Wetta exposed the pharmaceutical company’s alleged fraud in 2010, revealing that company representatives were promoting the drug Seroquel for conditions that it had not been approved for, such as dementia, depression, sleeplessness and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Although Mr Serpico attempted for years to work within the system to prevent changes (making himself hugely unpopular within the NYPD) it was a front page New York Times expose in 1970 that prompted an official investigation.
HSBC's Swiss subsidiary helped clients avoid tax HSBC helped clients evade millions of dollars in tax
Former computer systems analyst Herve Falciani exposed the fraud in the Swiss arm of HSBC by carrying out one of the biggest data leaks in the history of banking.
Mr Falciani used the confidential data of over 106,000 customers across 200 countries, collected between 2006 and 2007, to expose the bank's actions.
The Swiss authorities have accused Mr Falciani of attempting to sell off the data, but he maintains he exposed a "broken" system.