Niccolò Machiavelli

I've discovered that my department has been systematically falsifying safety inspection data for a major industry. I believe people may have died because of this. I have documents. A journalist has offered to publish everything if I leak the documents. It would be illegal. I'd likely go to prison. But it might save lives. My lawyer says there's another way: I could use what I know as leverage. Quietly approach the agency head, make clear what I have, negotiate reforms in exchange for my silence. She says that's how Washington actually works. You get results without martyrdom. The leverage play feels dirty, but the leak might accomplish nothing except destroying my life.

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