HGEA Retaliation:  Hawaii Dept Of Health Whistle-blower Forced Out with Bogus Firearm Threat

Statement from Rep Tulsi Gabbard, Sept 8, 2020

It appears Dr. Jennifer Smith has been punished for telling the people of Hawaiʻi the truth about what was really going on at the Department of Health.

After bravely coming forward to expose the lies coming from Drs. Anderson and Park that cost people their health and in some cases their lives, she has been forced to take leave.

This latest action from Governor Ige and his administration further erodes the public trust.

Retaliating against a whistleblower sends a dangerously chilling message to others in our government who are doing the right thing, that they better toe the line or they will be punished.

We all deserve better.

  *   *   *   *   * 

DOH whistleblower placed on leave for firearm allegations

KHON: … Smith’s spokesperson, Dr. Scott Miscovich of Premier Medical Group Hawaii, tells KHON2 she was placed on a 30-day paid leave from the DOH on Friday for accusations of threatening other DOH employees with a firearm.

“I was contacted by Jennifer in tears when she had received a letter that stated she was being put on administrative leave, and she was escorted out of the Department of Health by a sheriff,” Dr. Miscovich said.

He adds that Dr. Smith was presented with a letter upon notification of her forced leave. Although she denies the accusation, Dr. Miscovich says that she is under whistleblower status as the state is forced to investigate the allegations.

“Josh Green basically took her case to the Attorney General and presented to the Attorney General for whistleblower immunity,” Dr. Miscovich said….

The Hawaii Government Employees Association says it is representing Dr. Smith for any and all due process.  (While the HGEA’s demented system creates and protects the sick people who engage in these kinds of petty retaliation games.)

Miscovich says Dr. Smith’s absence is a blow to the maligned contact tracing efforts at the DOH.

“She’s one of the top contact tracers, and god knows we need contact tracers now in the state of Hawaii,” said Miscovich….

read … DOH whistleblower placed on leave for firearm allegations

  *   *   *   *   *

Hawaii Dept Of Health Whistleblower Forced Out

CB Sept 8, 2020: … Jennifer Smith, a virologist who has been praised as a whistleblower for bringing the department’s problems to light, confirmed that her supervisor told her late Friday that she was being forced to go on leave. Smith declined to say why she was ordered on leave or what rationale the department gave her….

First, on Aug. 31, Ige announced the retirement of Bruce Anderson, the Department of Health director. Two days later, Emily Roberson, an epidemiologist newly assigned to take over an overwhelmed contact tracing effort, requested a leave of absence until leadership could clarify chain of command issues that had made it hard to do her job. The next day, the department announced the state epidemiologist, Dr. Sarah Park, was put on paid leave.

Smith was put on leave late Friday, the same day as Park.

(Translation: You take two of ours.  We take two of yours.)

Dr. Scott Miscovich, who has been leading efforts to bolster Hawaii’s testing response, previously called Smith a “catalyst” for change and said Smith had shared with policymakers not just her observations but also documentation to show how understaffed the agency was….

read … Hawaii Dept Of Health Whistleblower Forced Out

KEY CLUE >>> Sept 3, 2020: HGEA Members Priority at DoH: ‘We With Sarah!’ -- Defend Embattled Epidemiologist

Really Obvious Question: How many people are dead because of HGEA members' petty revenge games at DoH?