SEC lead investigator on leave after threat allegations
By Sarah N. LynchPosted 2012/05/10 at 6:56 pm EDT
WASHINGTON, May 10, 2012 (Reuters) — The new lead investigator at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's watchdog office has been placed on administrative leave after he talked openly about wanting to carry a concealed firearm at work and some employees complained he was a physical threat, according to people familiar with the matter.
David Weber, who joined the SEC only a few months ago as the new assistant inspector general for investigations, was placed on leave Tuesday after internal security personnel revoked his SEC identification and banned him from entering SEC headquarters in Washington D.C., these people said.
Chris Mead, an attorney for Weber, said his client is being wrongfully retaliated against. He added he was also dismayed that efforts to invoke a lawful process to carry a firearm could be called a "threat."
Weber complained earlier this year to SEC commissioners about alleged misconduct in the inspector general's office, the sources said. His complaint came to light in news reports earlier this week.
"The timing doesn't make any sense because he was not considered threatening until people had a motive for retaliating against him," Mead said. "A chronology of events will reveal that any allegations against my client are not only false, but are unlawful retaliation against an employee who did the right thing."
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