Recent developments involving the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Police Department raise serious concerns about possible retaliation carried out by Giglio-impaired law enforcement officials—in direct response to protected Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) activity.
Khori Francis, a former VA police officer and Black veteran, filed a successful EEO complaint in 2022. He resigned under pressure in early 2023. At that time, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reviewed unrelated timecard concerns and determined no further action would be taken.
But in January 2025, the same case—once set aside—was suddenly reopened. The timing was alarming: it occurred just months after a key VA official involved in prior conflicts left the department. This move raises serious questions about selective prosecution and retaliation, potentially driven by officials whose credibility may already be compromised under Giglio standards. ⚠️
🔍 The 1% Exception: Why This Matters
The Phoenix VA Police Department historically sends 99% of criminal cases to state court—reserving federal charges only for minor offenses.
Yet, Francis became a rare 1% exception—referred for federal prosecution after a successful EEO complaint. He’s not alone:
🧾 Mario Ramirez, another minority officer who filed both a whistleblower disclosure and EEO complaint, faced federal charges for a minor citation in 2023.
🧑🏿⚖️ A 2023 VA investigation confirmed racial harassment against another Black officer. That case settled in 2024.
❗️ Internal findings showed some officials may have made false or incomplete statements during federal EEO investigations—potential violations of:
- 38 C.F.R. § 0.735-12 – Truthful cooperation
- VA Handbook 5025 – Integrity in investigations
- 18 U.S.C. § 1001 – No false statements in federal matters
- 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(9) – Protects employees from EEO retaliation
Such actions may render involved officials Giglio-impaired—raising serious concerns about the validity and motivation behind these prosecutions. ⚖️
✅ What We’re Calling For:
Independent review of the federal case against Khori Francis
Accountability for any officials found to have violated federal law or retaliated for EEO activity
Oversight into systemic retaliation and misconduct at Phoenix VA Police Department
This isn’t about politics. This is about fairness, integrity, and ensuring civil rights are respected—not punished.
📄 Read the full case files and evidence:
https://archive.org/details/show-temp-5
Stand with Khori. Demand accountability. Sign and share this petition.
#JusticeForFrancis #PhoenixVA #StopRetaliation #GiglioImpaired #VeteransDeserveBetter #CivilRightsMatter