Scott Bloch

Scott J. Bloch is a former United States government official who served as the head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) from 2004 to 2008. He was appointed by President George W. Bush and was responsible for protecting whistleblowers and investigating allegations of illegal activity within the federal government.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent investigative and prosecutorial agency within the United States federal government. Its primary mission is to safeguard the merit system by protecting federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices, ensuring their rights as whistleblowers, and enforcing the Hatch Act.

Scott Bloch faced controversy during his tenure as the head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. He was criticized for his handling of whistleblower cases and accused of retaliating against employees who sought to expose wrongdoing. Additionally, Bloch's tenure was marred by his own legal troubles, including allegations of improperly erasing computer files and providing misleading statements to investigators.

After leaving the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Scott Bloch faced legal consequences for his actions. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to criminal contempt of Congress for withholding information about his deletion of computer files during investigations. He was sentenced to one month in federal prison and probation. Bloch was also fined and required to complete community service.

There is debate about Scott Bloch's success in protecting whistleblowers during his tenure as the head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. While he initiated some high-profile investigations and made efforts to address prohibited personnel practices, his handling of cases and allegations of retaliation against whistleblowers raised concerns about his effectiveness in fulfilling the agency's mission.