Ronald Powell
Encyclopedia
Ronald Powell is a United States
special agent for the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General
. One notable concern of his was the investigation of former U.S. Department of Justice ethics advisor
Jesselyn Radack
, an attorney with the Department's Professional Responsibility Advisory Office.
On December 7, 2001, John De Pue, a counter-terrorism prosecutor, contacted Radack's office for advice as to whether the FBI could interrogate the recently detained "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh
even though his father had retained an attorney for him. Radack advised him that the proposed interrogation would not be authorized by law, in that the applicable guidelines required Lindh's attorney's consent. On December 9, 2001, FBI agent Christopher Reimann proceeded forward with the interrogation of Lindh at Camp Rhino
. The next day, De Pue contacted Radack's office to inform her that the interrogation went forward and sought further advice. Radack documented her advice in a series of e-mails.
On February 15, 2002, Federal District Judge T.S. Ellis, III, issued a discovery order in the Lindh case, requiring that the Justice Department's internal communications be turned over to him for determination as to which documents should be provided to the defense team. On March 7, 2002, Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Bellows, the lead prosecutor in the Lindh case, contacted Radack to confirm that he was possession of everything she had written on the Lindh matter. When Radack reviewed the Lindh file, it was determined that her prior communications with De Pue were missing from the file and were not made available to Randy Bellows or Judge Ellis. Once Radack brought this to her supervisor's attention, she was strongly encouraged to leave the department and find another job.
Two months later her e-mails showed up in a story by Newsweek's Michael Isikoff. Powell contacted the new law firm Radack was working for as part of the investigation. Phone and fax records traced from the firm to Newsweek, several days before the article was published, were confirmed. The firm then put her on leave due to the allegations. Radack later acknowledged sending the e-mails to Newsweek under the pretense of being a "whistleblower."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
special agent for the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
. One notable concern of his was the investigation of former U.S. Department of Justice ethics advisor
Jesselyn Radack
Jesselyn Radack
Jesselyn Radack is a former ethics adviser to the United States Department of Justice who came to prominence as a whistleblower after she disclosed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation committed an ethics violation in its interrogation of John Walker Lindh , without an attorney present, and...
, an attorney with the Department's Professional Responsibility Advisory Office.
On December 7, 2001, John De Pue, a counter-terrorism prosecutor, contacted Radack's office for advice as to whether the FBI could interrogate the recently detained "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh
John Walker Lindh
John Phillip Walker Lindh is a United States citizen who was captured as an enemy combatant during the United States' 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. He is now serving a 20-year prison sentence in connection with his participation in Afghanistan's Taliban army...
even though his father had retained an attorney for him. Radack advised him that the proposed interrogation would not be authorized by law, in that the applicable guidelines required Lindh's attorney's consent. On December 9, 2001, FBI agent Christopher Reimann proceeded forward with the interrogation of Lindh at Camp Rhino
Camp Rhino
Forward operating base Rhino, also known as Camp Rhino, was the first US land base established in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. It was located in the Registan Desert, southwest of Kandahar.-History:...
. The next day, De Pue contacted Radack's office to inform her that the interrogation went forward and sought further advice. Radack documented her advice in a series of e-mails.
On February 15, 2002, Federal District Judge T.S. Ellis, III, issued a discovery order in the Lindh case, requiring that the Justice Department's internal communications be turned over to him for determination as to which documents should be provided to the defense team. On March 7, 2002, Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Bellows, the lead prosecutor in the Lindh case, contacted Radack to confirm that he was possession of everything she had written on the Lindh matter. When Radack reviewed the Lindh file, it was determined that her prior communications with De Pue were missing from the file and were not made available to Randy Bellows or Judge Ellis. Once Radack brought this to her supervisor's attention, she was strongly encouraged to leave the department and find another job.
Two months later her e-mails showed up in a story by Newsweek's Michael Isikoff. Powell contacted the new law firm Radack was working for as part of the investigation. Phone and fax records traced from the firm to Newsweek, several days before the article was published, were confirmed. The firm then put her on leave due to the allegations. Radack later acknowledged sending the e-mails to Newsweek under the pretense of being a "whistleblower."