Ep 3. The Case Against Northrop

Whistleblower season 1 episode 3 is titled "The Case Against Northrop". This episode revolves around the story of whistleblowers who have exposed the corrupt practices of one of the world's largest military contractors. Northrop, which is a giant defense contractor, had been awarded several lucrative government contracts including a contract worth over $40 billion with the United States Air Force, to build a new fleet of stealth bombers.

The episode delves into the story of whistleblower James Holzrichter, who worked as an engineer at Northrop in the 1980s. Holzrichter became increasingly suspicious of his employer after discovering irregularities in the company's billing records. He eventually became convinced that Northrop was committing fraud against the government by inflating its costs and overcharging for parts.

Holzrichter initially reached out to his superiors to report his findings, but his concerns were dismissed. He then decided to take matters into his own hands and contacted the Defense Department, which launched an investigation into Northrop's practices. Holzrichter faced immense pressure and retaliation at work for his actions, but he continued to provide evidence to the government and eventually helped the government win a significant settlement from Northrop for overcharging on government contracts.

The episode also features the story of whistleblowers Tom Mueller and Robert Ferro, who worked for a company that was a subcontractor for Northrop on a project to build a new rocket motor. The duo discovered that Northrop was using defective parts in their rocket motors, which could put the lives of astronauts at risk. When they reported their findings to Northrop's management, they were ignored. Mueller and Ferro eventually contacted the FBI, which launched an investigation into the company's practices. Northrop eventually pleaded guilty to fraud charges and paid a $17.5 million settlement.

Overall, this episode of Whistleblower highlights the bravery of individuals who have risked their careers and personal safety to expose corruption and fraud in the military industrial complex. It sheds light on the lengths that large corporations will go to in order to protect their profits, and the importance of holding these companies accountable for their actions.