Release Interior OIG Report on Marlene Braun's Death

4:53 pm PDT, May 1, Dorothy Robertson, Oregon
THis report should have been released many years ago. there is no reason why it should still be beeing kept hidden from the public. Release this today.

8:57 am PDT, Apr 28, Christina Berardis, Connecticut

6:29 pm PDT, Apr 26, Laura Jensen, Connecticut

7:36 am PDT, Apr 26, Marissa Blaszko, Connecticut

12:01 pm PDT, Apr 24, Lanette Flood, New York
April 24, 2009 I too am suffering from workplace bullying and managerial harassment. I have HBP, which I never had, PTSD/anxiety, emotional distress, the list goes on. I am not at work, and although this should be a WCB case, and the ins carrier are the ones that make things worse. Work place bullying is premeditated murder. My condolences to the family.I support this petition, I too can identify with the late Marlene Braun. I just pray someone would listen to my case and guide me in the right direction. It's not about the monetary probably due to me, it is the principle. If you can bully the crutch of your business, what are you doing to the residents that need every CNA that has the compassion to care for them. I am not expendable.

11:41 am PDT, Apr 23, Kathy O'Malley, Massachusetts

7:38 am PDT, Apr 20, Noel Kropf, New York

5:03 pm PDT, Apr 17, Kathleen Masterson, New York
I experience workplace bullying on a daily basis. Laws need to be passed to prevent this type of behavior. My coworkers and I have been documenting things since a huge blow up on November 13, 2008. Before that date, we just took the bullying but we couldn't take it anymore and so we spoke up against the bully. Since that date, we have been told by the company to "get along with the bully or our office would be wiped out". We have had to sit in on a 2 1/2 hour meeting where the bully was able to speak and call all of us names and laugh at us. The meeting ended because I finally broke down in tears and my blood pressure was going up. I am on medication for blood pressure, a beta blocker, a perscription drug for anti-anxiety and xanax. I am going to the doctor on Monday, the doctor said I have to have my medication raised and I am being pulled from work for the next week because my blood pressure is out of control again (because of an episode in the office today). I have been brought to the E.R. with pressures 210/112 and was tested for stroke. I am 51 yrs. old with a handicapped son. My Grandfather died with heart disease at 39. I am afraid for my life right now. I don't know if all of this information matters any, but we need laws for bullying. There are some bills for bullying to go on the floor and they are S1823, A5414, A6207. Please help! Kathy Masterson

6:24 am PDT, Apr 17, Robert Mitchell, Montana
Ron Huntsinger should be taken to task for his part in Marlene Braun's problems

6:25 pm PDT, Apr 9, David Parees, California
There will justifiably always be suspicion that this death was due to inappropriate actions on the part of senior people in the Department. Perhaps, unfortunately, there was even direct involvement in her death. The truth will, hopefully, come out, but only if everything is made public.

5:51 pm PDT, Apr 8, La Howard, New York

4:37 pm PDT, Apr 7, Gregory Beck, California
As a former resident of the Carrizo area, as well as someone who knew Ms. Braun, I would like the full report available to the public.

10:16 am PDT, Apr 5, Penelope Curtis, California
It is my understanding that Ms. Braun was being harassed on a daily basis by her supervisors who wanted her to resign because they couldn't fire her for competence. She questioned their incompetence. Possibly her death was not a suicide??? Isn't it time to clean out the apple polishers in the Dept. of the Interior who move up the ladder by socializing in the bureaucracy? More competent professionals who question authority will make for a quality Dept. of the Interior!

4:09 pm PDT, Mar 27, James H. Maravel, South Carolina
This report should be made public as it concerns a government employee. We taxpayers pay the salaries of government workers and we have a right to know what is going on in public service. We want to assure a safe environment for all civil servants.

3:46 pm PDT, Mar 27, Charles J. Maravel, South Carolina
The report should be released in its entirety without redaction.

11:38 am PDT, Mar 21, Mark Barnes, California

1:07 pm PDT, Mar 17, Herb Brownell, Alaska
I was a co-worker of Marlene's while she was in Alaska. There is no place for the kinds of strong arming tactics she faced at work. There needs to be consequences for such actions. We need to see the supporting documents and testimony so we can bring to light any wrongdoings.

10:50 am PDT, Mar 16, Miriam Johnson, New York
Work place bullying should be a crime.

6:58 am PDT, Mar 11, Tracey Gotham, New York
We need to have a bill passed to help people from being targeted and having their personal and professional lives devastated. I have suffered from such abuse and I will never forget. There are so many of "me" and "Marlene" out there! Let's make some noise and get the job done. The power is in numbers and we can make employers accountable. This is a silent epidemic that must end! Marlene deserves to be heard. Her record needs to be made public.

5:55 am PDT, Mar 11, Name not displayed, Connecticut

5:47 pm PDT, Mar 10, Claudia Sieve, Indiana
They just take advantage of us BECAUSE they think we are weak, But, women do not forget!

5:12 pm PDT, Mar 10, Robert Wolff, Connecticut

5:41 am PDT, Mar 8, Sue A. Paivanas, New York
There is too much abuse happening behind closed doors that impacts individuals holistically. To allow it to continue for the sake of a reputation or financial security is aiding and abetting the abuse. i endured and continue to live with the affects of a demeaning, disparative work enviornment that was not justified by any means. To be intimidated, to be tormented for having ethics, honesty and being fortright should not be tolerated for any living soul. Accountability is mandatory for all parties regardless!

10:08 am PST, Mar 7, Mike Schlicht, New York
The New York Healthy Workplace Advocates would like to thank and congratulate the Friends of Marlene Braun for their work to petition the Office of the Interior and to secure the records of the investigation that led to Marlene Braun taking her life. Employees and proactive employers will be very interested in the findings of such once they are available for public view. The cost of workplace bullying is staggering when a supervisor such as Marlene's was takes it upon himself and his employer in this case to literally destroy a human being. No one should have that kind of power.

7:49 am PST, Mar 5, Tara Rowland, California

11:36 am PST, Mar 4, Carrie Cllark, California
This gentle soul was driven to end her life because she was rendered helpless and hopeless by workplace bullying. Millions more do the same or are driven from the workforce with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. The United States must stop this Silent Epidemic of Work Abuse.

9:53 am PST, Mar 4, Gary Namie, Washington
The state of America is nakedly obvious when a skilled, conscientious scientist like Marlene was driven to suicide by the unskilled neanderthal Ron Huntsinger who is working still at BLM in Obama's administration. And Huntsinger, the bully, operated freely with protection from Mike Pool, the BLM director. Write to Obama and remove these tyrants!

11:48 am PST, Mar 3, Ani L. Schwartz, New Mexico
With all the Kangaroo Courts one would think we were in Australia!

5:32 am PST, Mar 3, Lo Auer, Missouri

10:48 am PST, Feb 28, Julia Tawyea', Pennsylvania

4:31 pm PST, Feb 27, Christopher J Gorski, Connecticut
Mr. Salazar, I have been incredibly impressed by your decision to overturn the Utah Red Rock oil and gas leases. This leads me to believe you are an honorable man who is in step with the open and transparent goals of President Obama. I humbly ask you to pry apart the layers of deceit and self-protection that are keeping the full disclosure of testimony and supporting evidence of Marlene Braun's Death from being publicly released. Sincerely, Christopher J. Gorski

12:59 pm PST, Feb 26, K Blanken, Ohio

9:58 pm PST, Feb 24, Denise Halverson, Utah
Withholding this information is only further perpetuating damages. Do the right thing and release the information.

3:17 pm PST, Feb 24, Lowell Gerber, Maine

9:40 pm PST, Feb 23, Kacy Trujillo, California

6:52 pm PST, Feb 23, Corinne Trujillo, California

11:19 am PST, Feb 23, Carol Long, Washington
I want to see the COMPLETE report. I am a long-time Federal employee and I've been on the receiving end of similar situations as to what Marlene went through. I want to make sure that the report is HONEST. That it puts ALL individuals involved in the proper perspective. Marlene went through hell, and several people should be held accountable for their actions.

7:53 am PST, Feb 23, Lauren Housely, California

6:15 am PST, Feb 23, Patrice Kennedy, California
Far to long our Government decides what we get to know while they hide the truth of what is really going on. The last administration was thhe worse ever! Show us what they were hiding. This new administration gives me hope. Finaly a President who seems to have some morals.

8:46 pm PST, Feb 22, Chris Trujillo, California
This was a disgrace and never should have happened. She was a public employee and the full story needs to come out. I am ashamed this occurred and it needs to be recognized so it never happens again. I was so sorry when I heard the sad news regarding the death of this dedicated woman. To think she was treated so badly that she felt suicide was her best option. All she was trying to do was take care of the public lands she loved, using the best science available. Some people did not like what the science was saying and she paid the price.

8:18 am PST, Feb 21, Deborah Barclay, Connecticut
I blew the whistle on my State of CT Agency in 2003, I have been egregiously retaliated against ever since. I was threatened, pushed down the stairs: crushed coccyx, bladder leakage, anxiety, depression, PTSD. I was unjustly terminated, blacklisted from my profession. DCF investigations. (they take our kids away). The stress and financial strain dissolved my 35 year marriage. My ex hired a State of CT Legislator as his attorney. The politician used his influence over the court; I was denied Alimony/Child Support. The business we had required two paychecks to maintain, I was court ordered to be financially responsible for the expenses with NO money to maintain it. I like all whistleblowers in CT was falsely arrested THREE times in a period of three weeks; I was beaten up by my husband and I was arrested. I walked down the driveway to escort a a lost friend back to my home we communicated via cell phones the entire time. I was arrested for have a gun (it was my cell phone) The State's Attorney bumped up my bail to $200,000. My friend filed a complaint w/the police, they denied any wrong doing. My son told the investigator the police and his father filled out a report for HIM that was untrue. Several weeks later my son was falsely arrested. My crimes were dismissed after tens of thousands of dollars. My son has been going to Adult court for over a year, prosecutor refused to turn over evidence (because all they have is a 4th person testimony saying my son stole a gun and brought it back to our home.......police raided found no gun) They DID find the gun with another kid (who initially said my son took it) The Police arrested my son KNOWING he never had the gun. We asked to police to take son's fingerprints....not found on the gun or any of the evidence....Police said that didn't mean he didn't do it. Spending tens of thousands of dollars for his defense. Prosecutor PRESSURING from him to take plea, he wants Jury Trial. After going to Adult court every 3 weeks for over a year, now they want him to have a trial before Judge in Juvenile court where there is no monitoring or oversight and no checks and balances. The case would be sealed and the Judge free to be polically influenced to unjustly sentence him. With NO money for an appeal. The Hartford Family court conflicted out my divorce attorney unjustly because this third attorney wouldn't be politically influenced like my previous two. The Politican had the court order a DCF Attorney as my 16 year olds son's GAL who ABUSED him. Judge refused evidence and refused to dismiss the abusive GAL. GAL billed me $10,00+ for her fees! Court gave me all the debts $75K, the marital home that is in court for foreclosure, my family home that is mortgaged to value (Politician only submitted one mortgage suppressing the other one....I was not allowed to submit ANY evidence). I wasn't allowed to ask my witnesses ANY questions, all were not 'phraised' correctly (I'm not an attorney). I had 2 hours to present my case and the politican and a day and a half. The judge then asked me if I wanted another day....I declined because I couldn't ask any questions and my witness is deemed incredible. Kangaroo court. I also got the 401K that the Politician refused to give a current value showing the wall street collapse. Judge gave my ex my son's Lake Property that was bought with HIS college bonds given to him from my family and friends v gifts since birth because husband refused to set up a college fund. I went back to school at age 42 to be a nurse so I could provide for my son's college and inheritance. I bought the Lake Property with son's college bonds for his education and inheritance. Judge gave it to ex! Ex got all the tools, and equipment and plow trucks (which I took the day he left leaving me nothing to repair or maintain the properties) Ex got all the OLD CAR collection and ALL vehicles (except the 2006 PT cruiser convertible for me.....it's winter!) Ex also got the warehouse with NO mortgage and value $300K. All the properties ex got were undervalued and I was prevented from submitting REAL appraisals. Ex got over $800K worth of assets and equity.....I got DEBTS. After 16 months of no alimony/child support Judge gave me $250/w Alimony for one year, $175/w for last year (second year) I have to pay COBRA $400/mo and copays $250 for son and I. Mortgage on our home is $2500/month and $16,000 in arears. The State of CT uses ALL Three branches of government to retaliate against whistleblowers. The AG's whistlblower office is nothing more than a complaint center, we get NO protections, NO assistance and NO relief despite new laws...they are violated and ignored similarly as the OLD laws. The AG is the Attorneys that Defend the Offending State Agency against us! Talk about conflict of interest! Many of us end up homeless and penniless or locked up in one of the State's facilities or dead from 'accidents' or suicide. I have had several 'strange' accidents as well. I fear will be will evicted from our home. I am unemployed. Now, I find out that dismissal of the false charges only removes the false charges from public record and I cannot pass backgroun checks to work OUTSIDE corrupt CConnecticut. I am 54 years old, destroyed financially and emotionally distraught......watching my wonderful son be retaliated against so viciously has pushed me over the edge. Suicide would be a relief from the torment

5:49 am PST, Feb 21, Name not displayed, Connecticut
Give this woman's case a fair public hearing. She was a monument manager and her death was job-related so if there was a real investigation it all should be made public.

8:10 pm PST, Feb 16, Karen Sawislak, California
For more impact, add a personal comment here The full record of this case must be made available and the new administration should uphold its pledge of a new era of transparency in government.

9:06 pm PST, Feb 14, Della Barrett, California
It is time (and past time) to release the testimony and supporting documents.

5:44 am PST, Feb 12, J.H. Taylor, Connecticut
I have great respect for the people who are stewards of our land, and many people in BLM, etc. do a great job, like Marlene Braun and many others. Then there are the careerists who have no interest in the land, no dedication to serving the American people, like R.H., her boss, who will follow any order to get ahead. He was told to "fix the plan" and he sure did. Hold him accountable.

9:03 am PST, Feb 11, Kit Stolz, California
Marlene Braun's death raises an important question: Did she die because she was clinically depressed, or did she feel she had no choice as a public servant but to send a message? To bury the inquiry is to say that it was simply a personal matter. We cannot learn the truth by burying the investigation with her. If the Department valued her service they should release the record.

6:33 am PST, Feb 10, Elizabeth Lynch, Ohio

2:34 pm PST, Feb 9, Amy Ash, Alaska
I am in the hopes that this new administration will rectify these grivious wrongs.

6:26 am PST, Feb 7, Judith Lynch, Ohio
..the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth.. this truth deserves to be reviewed, and understood. Please help.

5:18 am PST, Feb 7, Janet Betsch, Ohio

11:42 am PST, Feb 6, Jim Fung, Texas

6:30 am PST, Feb 5, Name not displayed, Ohio

7:09 am PST, Feb 4, Peter Douglas, California
A full accounting, accountability and responsibility fixed where it belongs have not occured. The truth need be told.

6:57 am PST, Feb 4, Jennifer Gardner, Florida

9:23 pm PST, Feb 3, Jane Smith, California
The Department has no ethics, have allowed ideology and abuse to rule. The BlM has sold our our land and developed methods of beating up people along with the Forest Service....Marlene is a tragic loss. The Best and Brightest have been fired, retired, quit, been isolated. What is left in all Departments are those who followed orders to do nothing, not protect the people, the habitat, the species...Kept data under wraps, ignored science, medicine, allowed our air, water, food, exposure to toxins and chemicals to the point of reckless, disregard for human life. Abuse is the history for decades.....every person working for any Department needs to be reviewed or there is no hope for a future....as the toxic mix kills all life. We need law, morals the common good, rather than the few who benefit. Let the truth be known. Sign for Life.

8:48 pm PST, Feb 3, Dick Artley, Idaho
Murder is often disguised as suicide.

6:22 pm PST, Feb 3, Leigh Lowe, Texas