Dissenters’ Digest takes a look at last month’s top stories covering whistleblowers, watchdogs, and government accountability.

CIA Whistleblower Sentenced: John Kiriakou, a former CIA officer who disclosed on national television that the government had engaged in torture, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on charges of divulging the identity of a covert officer.

Signing Statement Provokes Outcry: The federal whistleblower community spoke out almost unanimously against a presidential signing statement that interpreted whistleblower provisions in the National Defense Reauthorization Act of 2013 narrowly. For more, see additional coverage and fact check posts here and here.

Prosecutorial Overreach: Aaron Swartz, Internet pioneer and open society activist, took his own life while facing a prosecution over allegedly unauthorized computer activity. It is believed that the U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz’s heavy-handed tactics contributed to his suicide. (YouTube).

Retroactivity to be Argued: The Merit Systems Protection Board will hear arguments in a case that will determine whether the newly-passed Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act may apply to conduct predating its passage or to cases pending at the time. Amicus briefs may be accepted until March 1.

Below the Fold:

• Lance Armstrong confessed to doping to Oprah–and was sued under the False Claims Act.
• The National Transportation Safety Board is reviewing a whistleblower’s allegations that the Boeing 787 airplane contains unsafe batteries.
• Senators Grassley and Leahy introduced a bill that would offer whistleblower protections for disclosures of criminal anti-trust activity.