File Photo of the United States National Flag
Washington:
The US Supreme Court will consider later this year whether an air marshal was lawfully sacked for disclosing sensitive information on flight safety to the media, it said Monday.
Air Force veteran Robert MacLean was among the first US air marshals recruited after the September 11, 2001 terror strikes to provide security on flights.
In 2003, he told a US broadcaster that his employer, the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), to save money, had decided not to put agents on some late flights because that would require overnight hotel stays.
He had discussed his concerns with FAMS that terrorists might take advantage of the apparent security hole, but was told the decision would stand, court documents show.
The administration of US President Barack Obama appealed to the Supreme Court after a lower court ruled MacLean's sacking for subsequently going to the media with his concerns was illegal under terms of a federal whistleblower law.
The law protects employees if their revelations involve illegal behavior, or acts that endanger public safety.
In its appeal, administration attorney Donald Verrilli argued that MacLean's media disclosure "put lives in danger by identifying the areas that have received fewer resources."
The case will be heard in the autumn.
Air Force veteran Robert MacLean was among the first US air marshals recruited after the September 11, 2001 terror strikes to provide security on flights.
In 2003, he told a US broadcaster that his employer, the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), to save money, had decided not to put agents on some late flights because that would require overnight hotel stays.
He had discussed his concerns with FAMS that terrorists might take advantage of the apparent security hole, but was told the decision would stand, court documents show.
The administration of US President Barack Obama appealed to the Supreme Court after a lower court ruled MacLean's sacking for subsequently going to the media with his concerns was illegal under terms of a federal whistleblower law.
The law protects employees if their revelations involve illegal behavior, or acts that endanger public safety.
In its appeal, administration attorney Donald Verrilli argued that MacLean's media disclosure "put lives in danger by identifying the areas that have received fewer resources."
The case will be heard in the autumn.
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