By John Solomon
How the government's punishing of the exposure of official wrongdoing can linger for years

Qualifiers from those sites and the international sectionals in Japan and England to be held May 27 will join the field for the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., June 13-16.
Investigators found no evidence of mechanical failure to explain why a pilot lost control of a small plane that nosedived into an Arkansas ridge, killing the Oklahoma State women's basketball coach and three others, according to a federal report.
A plane carrying two Oklahoma State University basketball coaches and a couple ferrying them to Arkansas for a recruiting trip was inspected and its muffler repaired about a week before it crashed, killing all four people on board, according to a report released this week.
Two years ago at his season-ending tournament, Tiger Woods was waiting to tee off on the par-3 17th at Sherwood Country Club when he turned to watch Dustin Johnson behind him just in time to see him blast a tee shot on the par-5 11th hole.

Caretakers of the Mall on Thursday announced their selection of firms to give America's backyard some much-needed improvements.
Oklahoma State President Burns Hargis plans to create a task force in the next few weeks to study whether changes are necessary to the school's travel policies following a November plane crash that killed women's basketball coach Kurt Budke and three others.
The plane involved in the crash that killed Oklahoma State women's basketball coach Kurt Budke and three others banked to the right and disappeared from radar before its nose dipped sharply, according to a preliminary federal report released Monday.
Even at 82, former Oklahoma lawmaker Olin Branstetter never stopped flying, taking to the skies about 10 times a month alongside his wife Paula, a fellow pilot, and once traveling as far as the North Pole.
Oklahoma State University students, faculty and staff will gather Monday to remember two women's basketball coaches and two others who died when their airplane crashed into a wooded hillside in central Arkansas.
Kurt Budke's success coaching Oklahoma State University's women's basketball team was a testament to his work ethic and tireless preparation, but the women who played for him said it was the sense of family he fostered that they'll remember most.
Oklahoma State University officials will examine the school's travel policy in the wake of a plane crash that killed women's basketball coach Kurt Budke, an assistant coach and two other people in central Arkansas, a spokesman said Sunday.
Iowa State observed a moment of silence before Friday night's football game with No. 2 Oklahoma State to honor Cowboys women's basketball coach Kurt Budke, assistant Miranda Serna and two others killed in a plane crash.
D.A. Points, Scott Stallings, Harrison Frazar and Bryce Molder, all winners on the PGA Tour this year, will join defending champion John Mallinger when the 40th edition of the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational tees off Thursday.
When Sean Payton met with his players on Monday, he took a moment to recognize his team for a trait that any coach would envy.
Saints starting right tackle Zach Strief and starting center Olin Kreutz both have left Sunday's game against the Houston Texans because of apparent leg injuries.