Speaking Truth to Power: Does Linda Brune need whistleblower protection because Ben Allen is threatening her?

Part III

Last week in Part II, I reported the Mississippi Attorney General (MAG) office recently announced Linda Brune registered as a whistleblower. Registering as a whistleblower is done when a person is seeking the government's protection from retaliation or other adverse actions by the person or agency subject of the investigation.

Brune is cooperating with MAG's investigation of Downtown Jackson Partners (DJP). The conduct of Ben Allen and other DJP decision makers is being reviewed to determine whether the $1 million annual appropriation of public funds to DJP is being properly spent. These funds are supposed to be used to improve 66 blocks of an impoverished area in Jackson.

Allen serves as DJP's president. His annual salary leaped from $75,000 a year to an eye-popping $150,000 a year-nearly five times the average annual salary of public officials in Mississippi. Allen's personal credit card bills allegedly have been paid by DJP. DJP reportedly transferred title to a Silverado to Allen and paid the vehicle insurance from the public funds allocated for operation of DJP.

In March 2014, Brune tered as a whistleblower. In July 2014, she was fired from her DJP job as Allen's executive assistant after DJP decision makers learned she was a whistleblower.

In September 2014, Brune will fight for her claim to unemployment benefits. DJP reportedly filed an objection to her claim.

Apparently, Brune's firing and DJP's challenge to her claim for unemployment benefits are not the primary reasons she needs the government's protection.

Brune says her 20-year friendship with Allen has come to a screeching end. She alleges that last week Allen "floor-boarded" his car and tried to run her down on Pascagoula Street as she was getting into her friend's car. Brune contends she was very frightened but did not file a police report because she thought this would increase her danger.

Brune reports that she fears for her life. Brune explained that Allen is very "volatile". "Allen has a dark side. A gun and liquor don't mix; Ben has both in his desk drawer. He gets enraged when things don't go his way," she said. Brune reports seeing Allen drink whiskey straight over ice on a daily basis at work and has witnessed his temper flare.

Next Week: Part IV - Speaking Truth to Power: Who are the DJP decision makers and what roles have they played?

By Alice Thomas-Tisdale

Jackson Advocate Publisher