FBI Battling ‘Rash Of Sexting,’ Reports Of Sexual Deviance Among Employees
The FBI investigates all kinds of crimes and misdemeanors. One woman was caught texting naked pictures of herself to her colleagues. One man was caught, drunk and violent, fighting with his mistress. Another case involved a woman in a romantic relationship with a known drug dealer.
But these cases aren’t ones that the FBI is investigating externally. These are the actions happening inside the FBI’s offices, among FBI employees.
The federal agency — whose motto is “fidelity, bravery, integrity” — is battling a “rash of sexting” and other inappropriate behaviors among its employees, according to recent reports. The public now has access to the details of what is happening behind the closed doors of the FBI agency. In part, the FBI has released the details of recent misconduct as a way to discourage further bad behavior.
In light of the mass number of federal employees who are using government-issued devices to send lurid sex messages and photos, the agency has decided to release quarterly reports detailing the misconduct of employees.
“We’re hoping (that) getting the message out in the quarterlies is going to teach people, as well as their supervisors… you can’t do this stuff,” FBI assistant director Candice Will toldCNN. “When you are given an FBI BlackBerry, it’s for official use. It’s not to text the woman in another office who you found attractive or to send a picture of yourself in a state of undress. That is not why we provide you an FBI BlackBerry.”
From 2010 to 2012, the FBI took disciplinary action against 1,045 employees for various violations. Eighty-five of those were fired. Out of the 36,000 FBI employees, a vast majority behave professionally on the job, but the agency feels that over 1,000 discovered and disciplined violations is far too many.
While the agency’s report does not include names or locations of the violations, it does give explicit detail into the misconducts. Reports of relationships with drug dealers, domestic violence, sexting, and even bugging supervisors’ offices litter the report.
One FBI worker “hid a recording device in supervisor’s office. In addition, without authorization, employee made copies of supervisor’s negative comments about employee that employee located by conducting an unauthorized search of the supervisor’s office and briefcase.” It said the employee “lied to investigators during (the) course of the administrative inquiry.”
Employees were also cited for committing fraud and abusing positions of power. One agent was fired after being charged with a second DUI. Another used a stolen credit card to buy gas. Another was caught in a child pornography sting operation.
One woman, according to the report, “used (a) personal cell phone to send nude photographs of herself to other employees” which “adversely affected the daily activities of several squads.” She was suspended for ten days.
Do you think that publishing the misconduct of FBI agents will prevent more sexual deviance and misconduct?
[Image via Shutterstock]
