July 1, 2003

Innocent employee

I am a little disappointed that [a Lab/University of California] internal investigation took 10 months to clear our employee of any charges of wrong doing. During that time, the two investigators that started this mess were fired and rehired, and now it appears their investigation was flawed and their dismissal was justified.

The state and national press had a great time hanging this employee and the Laboratory for all sorts of wrong doing, and now, the press is completely quiet about admitting that we (both our employee and the Laboratory) were innocent.

If this investigation could have been accomplished in several weeks instead of 10 months, perhaps the press would have had to admit the Lab was innocent thus making the general public aware that we are doing a great job. Perhaps some members of Congress would not have called us thieves, and perhaps the Department of Energy wouldn't have put our contract out for bid. It is a shame we will never see this information on our local TV stations.

Regardless, I'm glad we have [Interim Laboratory Director] Pete Nanos at the helm. It seems through his guidance things are getting done, and perhaps, if all of us here at the Lab help him with our transformation, UC might win the contract bid. Now wouldn't that be nice?

--Kenneth Rea