Government Accountability Project Fetes Whistleblowers with Brockovich-Hosted Gala

By Aaron Poehler

Published on September 26, 2007

The gala will honor 9/11 airport security whistleblower Bogdan Dzakovic, Vioxx whistleblower and Associate Director of the FDA Office of Drug Safety Dr. David Graham, Rep. Todd Platts, and Rep. Henry Waxman for their actions in protecting the public interest. Graham and Dzakovic will each be presented with the GAP Award for Integrity and Valor, while Platts and Waxman will receive the GAP Legislative Defender Award.

As a leader of the FAA’s Red Team, Dzakovic repeatedly warned FAA officials about weaknesses in airport security prior to the 9/11 attacks, only to be told not to write up his conclusions. Following 9/11 Dzakovic reported his findings and was subsequently grounded from the Red Team in retaliation.

Twenty-year FDA veteran Graham testified in the Senate that his FDA superiors had told him not to present his findings that the painkiller Vioxx should be banned, and termed their handling of the drug a public health disaster. Following his testimony, FDA officials initiated steps to remove Graham from drug safety work until congressional and media pressure forced them to relent.

Reps. Platts and Waxman co-sponsored the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007 and have both championed whistleblower protections during their legislative careers.

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