Americans strongly believe (86%) that whistleblowers who report corporate or government fraud deserve protection from harm, according to an exclusive new poll commissioned by the Whistleblower Network News. In addition, 82% of Americans say that passing stronger laws that protect employees who report corporate fraud should be a priority for Congress.
The survey of adults, registered voters and likely voters was conducted by The Marist Poll on behalf of the Whistleblower Network News, an online and independent newspaper that reports on whistleblowing. The poll shows unprecedented levels of support for corporate insiders who blow the whistle on fraud, and for White House officials and other federal employees who expose government wrongdoing.
The Marist Poll is rated A+ by the polling website FiveThirtyEight.
“This poll clearly demonstrates that the American people stand behind whistleblowers. They want their elected leaders to protect government and corporate employees who expose fraud,” said whistleblower attorney Stephen M. Kohn, partner at Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto and contributing editor of Whistleblower Network News. “In the eyes of the American people, whistleblowers are no longer the ‘skunks at the picnic.‘”
Major findings include:
- 86% of respondents say there should be stronger legal protections to protect whistleblowers who are federal employees and who report fraud in government programs, the poll finds. 86% agree or strongly agree that federal whistleblowers should be protected, and 9% disagree or disagree strongly.
- 82% of Americans say that passing stronger laws that protect employees who report corporate fraud should be a priority for Congress, according to the poll. Of these, 29% say it should be an “immediate priority.”
- 44% of Americans say they would be more likely to vote for congressional candidates who support strengthening laws that protect employees who report corporate fraud, the survey finds.
“The findings make clear that Americans want more help for whistleblowers, either coming out of the Administration or from Congress. Many likely voters are looking for political candidates who will boldly support whistleblower protections,” Kohn added.
The Whistleblower Network News Survey of 1,152 adults was conducted by The Marist Poll from September 11ththrough September 16th, 2020.
Whistleblower Network News
Whistleblower Network News is an independent online newspaper providing readers with up-to-date information on whistleblowing. Its goal is to be the best source of information on important qui tam, anti-corruption, compliance, and whistleblower law developments. It focuses on the SEC, IRS, and Commodities whistleblower programs, qui tam and False Claims Act litigation, and critical anti-corruption programs, such as cases filed by the Department of Justice under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Whistleblower Network News covers national and international legal developments and publishes editorial and opinion articles on whistleblowing and compliance issues.
When linking to the poll, please credit Whistleblower Network News.