Opinion ID: 2744103
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Lack of Candor (Charge 3)

Text: Charge 3 consisted of two specifications. The first specification charged that Mr. Wrocklage lacked candor in stating that he copied Ms. Berglund “in error” and that it “was a mistake due to the stress of the situation.” The second specification charged that Mr. Wrocklage failed to 1 Because there was no viewing of the TECS report at all, this case does not raise the question whether a “record” is “disclosed” under the Privacy Act once part of it is actually viewed. This case does not present the government’s concern about information-specific viewing within a single document. 2 Because we reverse the Board’s decision with re- spect to charges 2 and 3, and vacate the penalty of removal, see infra pp. 9–13, there is no need at this time to determine whether the emails Mr. Wrocklage sent to Ms. Berglund constitute protected disclosures under the Whistleblower Protection Act, and whether the Agency’s removal of Mr. Wrocklage is a prohibited personnel action within the meaning of that Act. 10 WROCKLAGE v. DHS be forthcoming by stating that he did not recall how he obtained the TECS report on the day in question. The AJ sustained the Agency’s finding that Mr. Wrocklage lacked candor, holding that preponderant evidence supported specifications 1 and 2. J.A. 119–21. The AJ found that Mr. Wrocklage’s contention that he “did not intend to include Ms. Berglund” on the email was “not credible.” J.A. 120. The AJ agreed with the Agency investigator that Mr. Wrocklage’s transmission of the email to Ms. Berglund “was not in error” because he sent the email to Ms. Berglund’s personal attention. Id. The AJ also found that Mr. Wrocklage’s statement that he could not “recall” where he received the TECS report after the Agency advised him that the TECS report sent to Ms. Berglund was printed from Officer LaLonde’s computer was “inherently incredible.” J.A. 120–21. The AJ concluded that Mr. Wrocklage’s statement that he could not recall how he came into possession of the TECS report lacked credibility because Mr. Wrocklage knew the seriousness of violating the prohibition against removing TECS documents. J.A. 121. The Board affirmed. J.A. 8–9. We agree with Mr. Wrocklage that substantial evi- dence does not support the lack of candor charge concerning Mr. Wrocklage’s transmission of the TECS report to Ms. Berglund. The AJ’s decision finds only that Mr. Wrocklage lacked credibility in alleging that he “did not intend to include Ms. Berglund in the mailing.” J.A. 120. But Mr. Wrocklage explained that he had intended to include Ms. Berglund on his email complaint to the Joint Intake Center. He explained that after drafting the email, he spoke with a representative of the Joint Intake Center who instructed him to attach the TECS report to the email, and he realized after he had sent multiple emails containing the TECS information that Ms. Berglund was carbon copied on the email. J.A. 68. Indeed, in an April 15, 2010 sworn statement completed during the Agency’s investigation, Mr. Wrocklage explained that WROCKLAGE v. DHS 11 when he discovered Ms. Berglund “was accidentally cc’d on the distribution list containing CBP sensitive information” he immediately asked Ms. Berglund to delete the TECS report. J.A. 35 (emphasis added). Lack of candor is a serious charge that carries with it the possibility of severe penalties. Bloom v. McHugh, 828 F. Supp. 2d 43, 55 (D.D.C. 2011). Here, the Agency failed to meet its burden of proof and rebut Mr. Wrocklage’s explanation of his error. We therefore find that substantial evidence does not support this specification of Charge 3. The lack of candor specification concerning Mr. Wrocklage’s statements about where he received the TECS report is similarly unsupported by substantial evidence. Mr. Wrocklage testified that he had printed out the TECS report himself and taken it to Officer Price to complain about the fine levied against the Millers. J.A. 61–63, 92. Officer LaLonde testified that he had likewise printed out the TECS report and taken it to Officer Price to complain that the fine against the Millers had been unwarranted. J.A. 85. The statement that Mr. Wrocklage made which the AJ found lacked candor was his response that he could “not recall” whether he had obtained the TECS report from Officer LaLonde. Mr. Wrocklage explained that he said he could not recall because despite having printed out the TECS report himself, Internal Affairs showed him that the copy which he forwarded had in fact been printed by Officer LaLonde. J.A. 61–63, 91–92. As the AJ acknowledged, Mr. LaLonde was equally perplexed at how Mr. Wrocklage had the TECS printout that had originated from his computer. J.A. 120. After being presented with this evidence Mr. LaLonde likewise testified that he could not “recall” how this happened. Both men were justifiably confused and presented consistent, unrebutted testimony. Later both men testified that they had each given their TECS reports to Officer Price and that it is possible when Officer Price returned the reports to them 12 WROCKLAGE v. DHS they were mixed up. J.A. 85, J.A. 92. In light of these facts, the Agency’s conclusion that Mr. Wrocklage lacked candor when he stated that he did not recall whether the report he submitted had originated from Officer LaLonde lacks substantial evidence support. We therefore reverse the Board’s decision sustaining the finding of lack of candor.