A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives whistleblower says he was subjected to threats of violence and years of retaliation after disclosing alleged widespread misconduct during the Biden administration.
According to the New York Post, Army veteran and ATF employee Afolabi Siwajuola reported that internal retaliation worsened following his protected disclosures in 2021 to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). Grassley on Monday demanded that the agency and Justice Department stop the retaliatory actions and hold accountable those behind them.
The alleged misconduct involved a scheme to misclassify administrative positions as law enforcement roles, enabling staff to claim higher pay and benefits. Investigations by the Office of Special Counsel, the Office of Personnel Management, and ATF’s internal affairs division later confirmed the irregularities, estimating losses to taxpayers of at least $20 million over five years.
Instead of recognition, Siwajuola said he endured harassment, bullying, and even physical threats from within the bureau. Grassley wrote that the whistleblower was admonished and ostracized by colleagues after revealing the misconduct.
One FBI probe in June 2022 looked into claims that an ATF agent told a witness, Siwajuola, had “a mark on his back,” implying harm was planned. The FBI referred the matter to ATF’s internal division, but the whistleblower said no one from that office ever contacted him.
Following a settlement aimed at resolving retaliation claims, Siwajuola was “promoted in name only” and made to report to an official tied to the misclassification scheme he denounced. Grassley said further retaliatory investigations were launched against him, including one that sought to find cause to fire him.
In mid-2022, Siwajuola alleged that Biden-appointed ATF Director Steven Dettelbach directed staff to find grounds for his termination. By 2023, internal affairs opened what Grassley described as a “baseless and biased” probe into Siwajuola.
That same year, he was demoted and forced to perform menial assignments well below his professional rank. Performance reviews also turned sharply negative, isolating him from peers and reinforcing what the senator called “persistent retaliation.”
Grassley emphasized that Siwajuola continues to face retaliation today, including another internal probe accusing him of misconduct, such as creating a hostile work environment. Siwajuola has denied all allegations.
During an August 27 interview, Siwajuola said he faced discriminatory questions about his national origin and political beliefs. He recounted being asked where he was “really from” despite answering North Carolina, and questioned about whether he wanted the ATF dismantled.
Grassley noted the impact on Siwajuola’s mental health, quoting him as saying his treatment at ATF rivaled his toughest experiences in Iraq. “Some days worse,” the whistleblower reportedly told Grassley, adding that unlike the Army, where his squadmates “had his back,” ATF leadership “put a target” on him.
Despite it all, Siwajuola has refused to quit. He believes in ensuring the agency follows the law and said leaving would mean abandoning his team and ATF’s mission.
In his letter to Acting ATF Director Daniel Driscoll and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Grassley demanded immediate action. He urged that retaliation cease, Siwajuola be reinstated to his rightful position, and thorough investigations be conducted into all misconduct and threats made against him.
The senator also pointed to a broader issue involving Biden-era hiring practices. He alleged whistleblower information showed the agency lowered standards for hiring new agents and pressured employees to approve unqualified applicants with personal or family ties.
Grassley maintained that if the allegations are confirmed, ATF officials complicit in the misconduct or retaliation must be disciplined. The bureau has not issued a comment in response to the claims.