Statement by the Partners of Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto Attorneys for Linda Tripp in her Privacy Act Lawsuit

We are saddened to hear the news that Linda Tripp has died.

Linda understood how people in power can abuse their positions. She had incredible courage. She was faithfully committed to honesty in government. She stood up when others would not. She knew the risks of becoming a whistleblower.

Linda often said about her whistleblowing that, “it was never about right or left, it was always about right and wrong.”

Like most whistleblowers, Linda was guided by a strong moral compass and inner strength, and supported by a loving family, which enabled her to withstand vicious attacks. She also vowed that she would report the misconduct all over again, even in the face of such personal attacks, because it was both her duty as a public servant and the right thing to do.

We extend our condolences to Linda’s family, who stood by her in the toughest times, and who also suffered from the abuses heaped upon her.

Linda was honored on National Whistleblower Day in July of 2018. It was an honor she truly deserved.

Thank you, Linda, for doing what every federal employee is obligated to do: report abuses of power, regardless of personal sacrifice.

Stephen M. Kohn
Michael D. Kohn
David K. Colapinto
Mary Jane Wilmoth
Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto, LLP
Attorneys for Linda Tripp

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Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto, LLP represented Linda Tripp in her Privacy Act lawsuit after she suffered retaliation based on truthful testimony before the Office of the Independent Counsel and on evidence she provided to a plaintiff in a sexual harassment case. In violation of the law, political appointees of the President leaked information from her highly confidential security clearance file to a journalist in an attempt to attack her credibility. Although her reputation was severely damaged by the willful violation of the Privacy Act, the truthfulness and importance of her testimony were fully vindicated. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia denied the government’s request to dismiss her lawsuit. Her claims were thereafter successfully settled.