‘I know it happens’: Boeing chief admits the company has retaliated against whistleblowers

Calhoun also said he didn’t have a “precise number” when asked how much of Boeing’s total settlement amount was covered by insurance. He also said he didn’t “have an answer” to whether Boeing had taken tax deductions on the settlement amount to reduce its impact on the company.

“You don’t have an answer to that, as the CEO of the company? I find that hard to believe,” Blumenthal said.

Earlier in the hearing, Blumenthal asked Calhoun how many Boeing employees had been fired for “retaliating against whistleblowers,” which Calhoun had said was against Boeing company policy.

“Senator, I don’t have that number on the tip of my tongue,” Calhoun said. “But I know it happens.”

“I am happy to follow up and get you that number,” he added.