Dissenter Weekly: Australian Witness In Afghanistan War Crimes Inquiry Was Bombed—Plus, Ag-Gag Laws

In this edition of “Dissenter Weekly,” Kevin Gosztola goes through whistleblower stories from the week of August 26, 2021.

We cover an investigation by the Australia Broadcasting Corporation that found a witness in an Afghanistan war crimes inquiry was relocated after their home was bombed.

The show highlights Representative Ilhan Omar's letter to President Joe Biden urging him to pardon drone whistleblower Daniel Hale.

Toward the end of the show, Kevin goes over the passage of a law backed by Big Agriculture in Iowa that makes audio or video recording in a "trespassing" crime. He also describes a lawsuit from a police whistleblower against the city of Louisville, who alleges retaliation for objecting to officers who sexually abused children.

Listen to the "Dissenter Weekly" podcast version available exclusively for paid subscribers:

Witness For Australian Inquiry Into War Crimes In Afghanistan Had Home Bombed

The Brereton Inquiry has investigated alleged war crimes committed by Australian military forces in Afghanistan. Now, an investigation by the Australia Broadcasting Corporation reveals that a witness had their home bombed last November. (Source)

Rep. Ilhan Omar Calls On Biden To Pardon Drone Whistleblower Daniel Hale

In an extremely rare request from a member of Congress, Representative Ilhan Omar spoke up in support of drone whistleblower Daniel Hale and urged President Joe Biden to pardon him. (Source)

Whistleblower Oversight Amendment Stripped From Senate Infrastructure Bill

An amendment that would have strengthened the False Claims Act was removed from the Senate infrastructure bill as a result of a "lobbying blitz" by corporate interests. (Source)

Police Whistleblower Who Spoke Out Against Sexual Assault In Louisville Youth Mentoring Program Alleges Retaliation

According to WDRB, a local news affiliate in Louisville, Kentucky, a former police officer sued the city of Louisville and alleges he was retaliated against after reporting sexual abuse against minors by police. (Source)

Ag-Gag Law Expanded In Iowa Creates New Crime Against Audio and Video Recording

In spite of defeats for ag-gag laws in courts throughout the United States, Iowa lawmakers passed a law that expanded the agribusiness-backed law to criminalize audio and video recording as a "trespassing" crime. (Source)