Whistleblower faults FBI staffing, know-how at House hearing

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The FBI's highest-ranking Arab-American agent told a congressional panel Wednesday he is not being allowed to work on important counterterrorism assignments, despite a shortage of agents who speak Arabic.

Egyptian-born Bassem Youssef told the House Judiciary Committee that the FBI Counterterrorism Unit is staffed at only 62 percent.

Youssef had previously spoken in limited media interviews, but Wednesday marked the first time he spoke at length about his experiences before Congress.

A Justice Department investigation found that the bureau illegally retaliated against Youssef after he complained about what he said was excessive use of warrantless searches. He has a lawsuit pending against the FBI.

He declined to identify the contents of what he said were "hundreds of e-mails" he had turned over to the Justice Department inspector general for use in an investigation. That probe is expected to result in a report on the FBI's use of warrantless searches in "urgent" circumstances.

Youssef blamed the FBI's shortcomings on several factors, including a policy that requires personnel with five years or more experience in counterterrorism to be transferred to other offices. He said they are replaced with inexperienced agents.

"We still have agents who are highly dedicated, but don't have the tools needed to get into the mind of the enemy," Youssef told the committee.

Agents waste tremendous amounts of time chasing leads they know are unrelated to real threats, he said.

"This happens just about every weekend, where folks get called in on the weekend and while they're waiting, away from their families, they know that this threat is not a real threat," Youssef said. "There is a sense of discouragement, and when these agents go back to the field, they tell others, 'Do not put in for this division.' "

FBI Assistant Director John Miller said the agency is working "diligently" to attract and hire more Arabic-speaking agents.

"It is cynical to write off the work of so many dedicated FBI employees or the accomplishments of the bureau by suggesting that these efforts are failing, especially when they are not," he said.

"Since 9/11, but particularly over the past year, the FBI has been addressing staffing concerns, career-path issues and how we can better leverage a strategic, intelligence-based view," Miller said.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, an advocate for whistleblowers, appeared at the House hearing to praise Youssef and Mike German, another FBI agent who once faced retaliation. German was a respected agent known for infiltrating domestic terror organizations before becoming a whistleblower and leaving the FBI.

"The FBI's culture of retaliation will never change unless those who endorse or condone it face discipline for their actions," Grassley said.

Youssef told the panel that a supervisor had once said, "Whistleblowers, hang 'em," in his presence. But the supervisor was not punished. He was rewarded with an office birthday party.

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