King County prosecutors are expected to  announce a new trial date today for prosecuting a Boeing whistle-blower Gerald Eastman.  

Eastman was discovered downloading internal Boeing information, some of which he shared with reporters at the Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer.  The information he disclosed to the press revolved around quality assurance and inspection flaws he perceived while working at Boeing as a quality assurance inspector.  Now he faces a second round of criminal charges for his whistle-blowing to the press. 

"The charges against Eastman are a message to all potential whistle-blowers at Boeing," said Nick Schwellenbach, an investigator at the Project on Government Oversight.  "The message from Boeing is clear: We'll try to send you to jail if you disclose information to the press.”

Last month, the King County prosecutor's office pursued criminal charges against Eastman for "computer trespass," a charge normally used against hackers, not whistle-blowers.  The trial resulted in a hung jury because some of the jurors believed Eastman's activities were whistle-blowing and should not result in criminal prosecution.