Former protector of government whistle-blowers pleads guilty

Former protector of whistle-blowers pleads guilty

WASHINGTON — The government’s former top protector of whistle-blowers has pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress about his decision to have several government computers wiped clean of information.

Scott Bloch, the ex-head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel during much of the administration of President George W. Bush, faces a maximum yearlong prison term following Tuesday’s plea before a federal magistrate.

Bloch came under heavy criticism shortly after taking office in 2004, in part for closing hundreds of whistle-blower cases allegedly without investigating them.

In 2008, the FBI raided Bloch’s office and home amid allegations that he destroyed evidence and potentially lied to Congress during an Office of Personnel Management investigation of his conduct.