Barr apparently retracts opposition to False Claims Act
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U.S. attorney general nominee William Barr has apparently retracted his prior opposition to the False Claims Act whistleblower law and promised to enforce the law, according to testimony at his confirmation hearing Tuesday.
A report issued last week by Los Angeles-based Gibson Dunn Crutcher LLC said there has been speculation about the approach Mr. Barr would bring to FCA enforcement, adding “In the past, Barr has made comments calling the FCA unconstitutional and an abomination.”
The Washington, D.C.-based National Whistleblower Center said Tuesday that during his confirmation hearing, in response to questions from Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, Mr. Barr answered “no,” when asked if the FCA is unconstitutional, adding “It’s been upheld by the Supreme Court.” He also said he does not consider it to be “an abomination.”
Mr. Barr answered “yes,” when asked by the senator if the FCA benefitted the taxpayer, “specifically its provisions to empower and protect whistleblowers.”
Sen. Grassley then asked, “If confirmed, do you commit to not take any actions to undermine the False Claims Act; further if confirmed, will you continue current justice department staff and funding levels to properly support and prosecute False Claims Act cases?”
Mr. Barr responded, “Yes, I will diligently enforce the False Claims Act.”
National Whistleblower Center Executive Director Stephen M. Kohn said in the statement that the significance of Mr. Barr’s commitment to the FCA’s whistleblower provisions “cannot be underestimated. The Justice Department’s partnership with whistleblowers in fighting fraud has led to over $40 billion in collections from fraudsters who tried to steal from the taxpayer.”
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