Cheney v. Department of Justice

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Cheney v. Department of Justice, 296 F. App'x 26 (Fed. Cir. 2008)

Cheney v. Department of Justice

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Reginald Cheney appeals a final decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board (Board) affirming his removal from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), See Cheney v. Dep’t of Justice, No. CH-0752070243-I-1 (M.S.P.B. June 7, 2007). We affirm the final decision of the Board

Prior to his removal, Mr. Cheney was employed as the resident agent in charge °f Cleveland resident office of DEA. Mr. Cheney was removed from DEA following an investigation into allegations that he engaged in a course of conduct that included: instructing his subordinates to issue subpoenas outside of the scope of business; discussing an investigation into his conduct with DEA personnel after be-Mg instructed not to do so; and making false statements to DEA internal affairs investigators. Mr. Cheney appealed his removal to the Board. On June 7, 2007, the Board issued an initial decision, which became final on July 12, 2007, affirming Mr. Cheney’s removal based upon findings of: (1) misuse of office; (2) conduct unbecoming a DEA Supervisory Special Agent; and (3) making false, misleading, and/or inaccurate statements. The Board further found that Mr. Cheney’s misconduct was connected to the efficiency of the service and that his removal did not exceed the tolerable limits of reasonableness,

Mr. Cheney appeals the final decision, and we have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)' 0ur review is lünited to settinS aside flndinSs or conclusions of the MSPB that we fmd to be “(1) arbitrarY caPrfcious’ an abuse of discietion’ or otherwise not in accordance ^ law’ (2) obtained without Procedures recluired ^ law’ rule> or reSulation having been followed; or (3) unsupported by substantial evidence.” 5 U.S.C. § 7703(c).

Mr. Cheney asserts that the Board’s decision was not supported by substantial evidence. We disagree. The Board’s conelusions were supported by physical evidence as well as testimony from other DEA agents. To the extent that Mr. Cheney provided testimony on his own behalf, the Board found this testimony to be neither truthful nor credible, and “credibility determinations are virtually unreview *28 able.” Chambers v. Dep’t of the Interior, 515 F.3d 1362, 1370 (Fed.Cir. 2008) (internal quotation marks omitted).

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the final decision of the Board.

COSTS

Nocost8'

Reference

Full Case Name
Reginald CHENEY, Petitioner, v. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Respondent
Status
Unpublished