Whistle-Blower at Los Alamos Is Severely Beaten

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" Zepp " <zepp

Tue, 07 Jun 2005 06:19:18 -0700

[Zepps_News] #Whistle-Blower at Los Alamos Is Severely Beaten

 

 

 

 

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-hook7jun07.story

 

Whistle-Blower at Los Alamos Is Severely Beaten

# The auditor had been preparing to testify about alleged financial

abuses at the federal lab.

 

By Ralph Vartabedian, Times Staff Writer

 

An auditor preparing to testify before Congress about alleged financial

abuses at Los Alamos National Laboratory was severely beaten after going

to a nightclub to meet a person who claimed to have additional

information about the lab, the auditor's wife and attorney said Monday.

 

The FBI and police in Santa Fe, N.M., said they were investigating the

assault early Sunday morning against Tommy Ray Hook. The longtime Los

Alamos employee filed a lawsuit this year in which he claimed that lab

supervisors at the University of California had retaliated against him

and another auditor for blowing the whistle on financial mismanagement.

 

 

Hook is one of about a half-dozen workers who have come forward in the

last several years with allegations about lax security, poor safety and

financial mismanagement at the nuclear weapons facility in New Mexico

that has cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

 

The problems led in part to the Energy Department's recent decision to

open bidding for the contract to operate the lab, which has been held by

the UC system since World War II.

 

Hook was unconscious when emergency medical personnel arrived at the

scene, said his wife, Susan. He remained hospitalized in Santa Fe on

Monday with a fractured jaw and an injury to his spine, she said. The

assault was broken up when a bouncer at the nightclub came out to the

parking lot and the assailants fled.

 

" When they were beating him, they said he needed to start keeping his

mouth shut, " Susan Hook said.

 

According to his wife, Hook was contacted by someone who wanted to

provide him with evidence of financial problems at the lab, but a

meeting Friday was delayed.

 

Then Saturday about 10:30 p.m., Hook was awakened at home by the

individual, who wanted to meet that night at the nightclub, Susan Hook

said.

 

Her husband made the 50-minute drive to Santa Fe and waited for about an

hour. When Hook went back to his car, he was pulled out from the

driver's seat, his wife said. The assailants did not take his wallet,

which contained a large amount of cash and credit cards.

 

At the time, Susan Hook said, she was visiting the couple's two sons in

Albuquerque.

 

As she described her husband's condition Monday, Susan Hook broke down

crying. She said the couple had planned to celebrate their 30th wedding

anniversary this week with a trip to Hawaii.

 

Santa Fe Police Deputy Chief Eric Johnson said an assault report was

made at 2:01 a.m. Sunday. But it was not until Monday that police

learned from FBI officials that Hook was a potential congressional

witness.

 

Johnson said officials were examining the possibility that the assault

was a case of random violence, as well as the chance that Hook had been

targeted.

 

The matter will be referred to the U.S. attorney in New Mexico, an FBI

spokesman said, if it appeared that Hook's upcoming testimony was the

reason for the attack.

 

Bob Rothstein, Hook's attorney, said the assault was a clear attempt to

intimidate or silence his client.

 

UC management at the lab " has created an atmosphere in which it is

uncomfortable to speak the truth, " Rothstein said. " The university has

not encouraged whistle-blowers and, in fact, has created an atmosphere

in which whistle-blowers are regarded as enemies. "

 

UC officials said in a statement Monday that they were " outraged that a

laboratory employee was the victim of a weekend assault in Santa Fe. "

 

Lab Director Robert Kuckuck said in the statement that " any form of

physical violence towards an individual is unacceptable. The laboratory

is in contact with the Santa Fe Police Department and is providing the

laboratory's full support and cooperation with the ongoing investigation. "

 

An Energy Department spokeswoman said the matter had been referred to

the inspector general's office for investigation.

 

Hook's suit against the university was joined by co-plaintiff Charles

Montano, another auditor at the lab. Montano said Monday that he had

been dealt with harshly, kept in a small office for nine months and

given no work assignments.

 

" I was a little naive, " Montano said. " I didn't think this could happen.

We are talking about people who have strong opinions about the

University of California. "

--

 

 

 

 

" As democracy is perfected, the office of president

represents, more and more closely, the inner soul

of the people. On some great and glorious day the

plain folks of the land will reach their heart's

desire at last and the White House will be adorned

by a downright moron. " --- H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)

 

 

Not dead, in jail, or a slave? Thank a liberal!

Pay your taxes so the rich don't have to.

 

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