Often cited as a primary claim in whistleblower cases, abuse of authority is when there is an “arbitrary or capricious exercise of power by a federal official or employee” that harms the rights of any person or that personally benefits the official/employee or their preferred associates.
How to Report Abuse of Authority
Abuse of authority is a prohibited personnel practice in federal employment, which constitutes serious misconduct, and should be reported by those who uncover it through whistleblowing. To be considered a “protected” whistleblower, the federal employee should take care to report the wrongdoing to the correct authority figure.
Federal employees are considered protected whistleblowers if they believe the accusation revealed abuse of authority and if they report to any federal official who has the authority to correct the underlying impropriety, that includes the wrongdoer, their supervisor, human resources, your agency’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and/or the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC).
However, some federal employees may feel uncomfortable exposing abuse of authority in their federal agency due to fear of retaliation. Federal employees who report illegal activity within their agency or to its OIG and/or to OSC are protected against retaliatory personnel actions and/or harassment through the Whistleblower Protection & Enhancement Act. If a federal employee feels they are being retaliated against for their report, they are able to challenge those personnel actions to the OSC and/or the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).
If you feel that you are facing retaliation for whistleblowing, call our federal whistleblower attorneys today at (202) 350-3881 to schedule a consultation.
Are You Suspected of Abuse of Authority?
If you are suspected of abuse of authority, you may need representation from a federal employment attorney to protect your rights. Individuals accused of abuse of authority may face serious consequences and these misconduct charges may not be taken lightly.
Federal Whistleblower Lawyers
The federal employment attorneys at the Preeminent-rated and award-winning Federal Employees The Law Firm of John P. Mahoney, Esq., Attorneys at Law, PLLC, are experienced in representing federal employees in whistleblower retaliation and misconduct cases. Our skilled federal employment attorneys know the ins and outs of abuse of authority and misconduct cases and will use our knowledge to protect your livelihood.
Do you suspect abuse of authority occurring at your federal agency? Call our federal whistleblower lawyers today at Phone to schedule a consultation with our team.
