Biography
The daughter of an Iranian Azerbaijani father and Turkish mother, Sibel Deniz Edmonds lived in Iran and then Turkey before coming to the United States as a student in 1988. Fluent in Azerbaijani, Turkish, Persian and English, Edmonds earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice and psychology from George Washington University and her master's in public policy and international commerce from George Mason University
Sibel Deniz Edmonds is the founder and editor-in-chief of NewsBud, an independent news website.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) hired her as a language specialist shortly after 9/11 but fired her after less than seven months. She reported serious acts of security breaches and cover-ups, and for that she was retaliated against and ultimately fired. Court proceedings were blocked by the assertion of the State Secrets Privilege, and the U.S. Congress has been gagged and prevented from taking up or even discussing her case through retroactive classification issued by the Department of Justice.
She identified herself as a whistleblower and challenged her termination; however, the courts dismissed her lawsuit for wrongful termination because the FBI would need to disclose privileged information. She accused a colleague of covering up illicit activity involving Turkish nationals, alleged serious security breaches and cover-ups and that intelligence had been deliberately suppressed, endangering national security.
The PEN American Center awarded her the PEN/Newman’s Own First Amendment Award in 2006 for her claims.
She is the founder and publisher of the Boiling Frogs Post, an online media site that aims to offer nonpartisan investigative journalism.
In 2016 as editor-in-chief Sibel expanded and founded NewsBud independent news media with associates, partnered with BFP.
Sibel Edmonds published a memoir in March 2012, titled Classified Woman – The Sibel Edmonds Story.
Sibel Edmonds is also the editor of Boiling Frogs Post and founder- director of the National Security Whistleblowers Coalition.