Statutory text
10 U.S.C. § 932
(a) In General .— Any person subject to this chapter who, with the intent to retaliate against any person for reporting or planning to report a criminal offense, or making or planning to make a protected communication, or with the intent to discourage any person from reporting a criminal offense or making or planning to make a protected communication— (1) wrongfully takes or threatens to take an adverse personnel action against any person; or (2) wrongfully withholds or threatens to withhold a favorable personnel action with respect to any person; shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
(b) Definitions .— In this section: (1) The term “protected communication” means the following: (A) A lawful communication to a Member of Congress or an Inspector General. (B) A communication to a covered individual or organization in which a member of the armed forces complains of, or discloses information that the member reasonably believes constitutes evidence of, any of the following: (i) A violation of law or regulation, including a law or regulation prohibiting sexual harassment or unlawful discrimination.
(ii) Gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. (2) The term “Inspector General” has the meaning given that term in section 1034(j) of this title . (3) The term “covered individual or organization” means any recipient of a communication specified in clauses (i) through (v) of section 1034(b)(1)(B) of this title .
(4) The term “unlawful discrimination” means discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
