FBI agents raid federal Office of Special Counsel

The FBI today raided the Office of Special Counsel, seizing documents and computers belonging to special counsel Scott Bloch and his staff.

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Agents shut down the office computer network and searched offices in Washington and Dallas, as well as Bloch’s home.

Scott J. Bloch

The Wall Street Journal reported last year that Bloch had called in an outside firm to erase files from three computers, including his own.

Bloch has been under investigation by the Office of Personnel Management since 2005. That office’s inspector general is reviewing allegations that Bloch has misused his authority and retaliated against whistleblowers.

The charges are particularly stinging, because the agency’s mission is to protect federal employees against reprisal for whistleblowing.

In comments posted on the agency web site, Bloch says, “A whistleblower is an ordinary hero who helps America function when it wants to slip into self-interest and faction. I get to reward ordinary heroes who report waste, fraud and abuse.”

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