Jodi Breiterman v. United States Capitol Police ( 2021 )


Menu:
  •  United States Court of Appeals
    FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
    Argued May 4, 2021                 Decided October 15, 2021
    No. 20-5295
    JODI BREITERMAN,
    APPELLANT
    v.
    UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE,
    APPELLEE
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the District of Columbia
    (No. 1:16-cv-00893)
    Anita Mazumdar Chambers argued the cause for appellant.
    With her on the briefs were R. Scott Oswald and John T.
    Harrington.
    Kelly M. Scindian argued the cause and filed the brief for
    appellee.
    Before: WILKINS and RAO, Circuit Judges, and
    SILBERMAN, Senior Circuit Judge.
    Opinion for the Court filed by Circuit Judge RAO.
    RAO, Circuit Judge: Jodi Breiterman challenges three
    disciplinary actions imposed by her employer, the United
    2
    States Capitol Police. She was suspended after commenting to
    fellow employees that women had to “sleep with someone” to
    get ahead. She was later placed on administrative leave and
    ultimately demoted for leaking a picture of an unattended
    Capitol Police firearm to the press. Although Breiterman
    admits to this misconduct, she sued the Capitol Police, alleging
    sex discrimination and retaliation in violation of the
    Congressional Accountability Act, as well as unlawful
    retaliation for speech protected by the First Amendment. The
    district court granted the Capitol Police’s motion for summary
    judgment. We affirm.
    I.
    Congress established the Capitol Police to ensure the
    safety and security of the Capitol’s facilities and to allow
    Congress to “fulfill its constitutional and legislative
    responsibilities in a safe, secure, and open environment.”
    Breiterman served in the Capitol Police as a private first class
    for about eight years before being promoted to sergeant. As a
    sergeant, Breiterman’s supervisory responsibilities included
    overseeing,     evaluating,     and     disciplining   officers;
    communicating information up the chain of command; and
    interacting with reporters to provide scheduling information.
    Although Breiterman competently fulfilled these
    responsibilities and received praise for her dependability, she
    had been disciplined on several occasions before the events
    giving rise to this lawsuit. Breiterman also had previously
    raised a claim of race discrimination when she was denied
    reassignment to the Intelligence Section. Breiterman, a white
    woman, claimed she was discriminated against when an
    African-American supervisor filled the position with an
    African-American woman. Breiterman ultimately decided not
    to pursue the claim beyond mediation.
    3
    Breiterman’s lawsuit challenges the discipline arising
    from two later events. The first occurred in 2014, when, in a
    conversation with subordinate officers and administrative staff,
    Breiterman speculated that a female officer was transferred to
    a favorable posting because of her “romantic relationship with
    a Deputy Chief.” Breiterman added something like, “[y]ou
    have to sleep with someone to get ahead in the department.”
    The officer learned of Breiterman’s remarks and lodged a
    complaint with the Capitol Police’s Office of Professional
    Responsibility (“OPR”). Sergeant Mark Shutters investigated
    the complaint, and Breiterman admitted making the negative
    remarks. OPR concluded Breiterman violated the Capitol
    Police’s Rule of Conduct against “improper remarks” because
    she made “malicious, harassing, untruthful, or frivolous
    remarks or rumors against, or about, other members of the
    Department or individuals in the workplace.”
    OPR’s report was sent to the Disciplinary Review Office,
    which recommends discipline for misconduct after considering
    the nature and seriousness of the offense, the officer’s
    employment history, mitigating factors, and penalties issued in
    cases involving similar circumstances. The Office
    recommended a two-day suspension without pay, which
    Breiterman’s bureau commander approved, specifically citing
    her supervisory role as a reason for doing so. Breiterman’s
    discipline was sustained on appeal by the Deputy Chief and
    Chief.
    The second disciplinary event occurred shortly thereafter.
    On January 29, 2015, a radio call reported an unsecured firearm
    in a men’s bathroom in a restricted area of the Capitol Visitor
    Center. Breiterman and other members of the Capitol Police
    responded and secured the firearm. Breiterman photographed
    the firearm on her work phone and sent the pictures to her
    supervising officer. She also concluded—based on the
    4
    firearm’s markings—that it was issued by the Capitol Police.
    The officer who left the firearm unattended was suspended for
    six days without pay.
    About three months later, Roll Call reporter Hannah Hess
    published an article, “Capitol Police Left Guns in Bathrooms.”
    The photo Breiterman had taken was printed directly beneath
    the headline. The article scrutinized the January 29 incident and
    two other incidents involving unattended Capitol Police
    firearms in the Capitol. Later that day, Roll Call published a
    follow-up article, “Do Capitol Police Problems Go Beyond the
    Bathroom?”, which also featured Breiterman’s photo. The
    articles generated a “media frenzy.”
    The Capitol Police’s media policy prohibits “sworn
    employees” from “speak[ing] publicly or releas[ing] any
    information related to employee cases or administrative cases,
    [or] investigations.” As part of an OPR investigation, Sergeant
    Shutters discovered that the photo printed in the news articles
    was Breiterman’s and that she sent it to her personal email
    account several days before the first Roll Call article was
    published. Sergeant Shutters concluded Breiterman had
    probably leaked the photo.
    During her interviews, Breiterman ultimately admitted
    sending the photo to Hess and telling her about the January 29
    incident. According to the Capitol Police, Breiterman told
    Sergeant Shutters that she “did not know why” she sent the
    photo to Hess and admitted that doing so violated policy and
    exceeded her authority. Several months later, Breiterman sent
    a letter to the Inspector General of the Capitol Police, claiming
    she had spoken about “a matter of public concern,” namely that
    a loaded firearm had been left unattended in a bathroom by a
    Capitol Police officer. She claimed to be concerned about the
    “repeated instances” of unattended firearms in the Capitol.
    5
    Breiterman admits, however, that until she spoke with Hess,
    she was unaware of other incidents involving unattended
    firearms. Breiterman was placed on paid administrative leave
    during the investigation.
    OPR charged Breiterman for “conduct unbecoming.”
    Based on Breiterman’s supervisory status, disciplinary history,
    and the disruption resulting from her leak to the media, the
    Disciplinary Review Office recommended demoting
    Breiterman from her supervisory rank of sergeant to the non-
    supervisory rank of private first class. Although Breiterman’s
    bureau commander disagreed with the discipline, the Assistant
    Chief thought demotion was appropriate because Breiterman
    leaked information about a pending investigation, which may
    have undermined the trust of her subordinates. The Assistant
    Chief also noted that Breiterman failed to provide a
    “legitimate … explanation” for her actions. After an
    unsuccessful administrative appeal, Breiterman was demoted.
    Breiterman sued the Capitol Police in federal district court.
    She alleged her two-day suspension for “improper remarks”
    was in fact sex discrimination and retaliation in violation of the
    Congressional Accountability Act (“CAA”), Pub. L. No. 104-
    1, 
    109 Stat. 3
     (1995) (codified as amended at 
    2 U.S.C. § 1301
    et seq.). Additionally, she alleged her paid administrative leave
    and eventual demotion in the wake of the media leak were due
    to sex discrimination and retaliation in violation of the CAA as
    well as retaliation for speech protected by the First
    Amendment. The district court granted the Capitol Police’s
    motion for summary judgment. Breiterman timely appealed.
    II.
    This court reviews de novo the district court’s grant of
    summary judgment. Holcomb v. Powell, 
    433 F.3d 889
    , 895
    (D.C. Cir. 2006). “The court shall grant summary judgment if
    6
    the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any
    material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter
    of law.” FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a). “Summary judgment is
    appropriately granted when, viewing the evidence in the light
    most favorable to the non-movant and drawing all reasonable
    inferences accordingly, no reasonable jury could reach a
    verdict in her favor.” Wheeler v. Georgetown Univ. Hosp., 
    812 F.3d 1109
    , 1113 (D.C. Cir. 2016).
    Breiterman first alleges discrimination and retaliation in
    violation of the CAA, which extends the protections of Title
    VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to covered employees of
    the federal legislative branch, including members of the
    Capitol Police. 
    2 U.S.C. §§ 1301
    (a)(3)(D), 1302(a)(2);
    Blackmon-Malloy v. U.S. Capitol Police Bd., 
    575 F.3d 699
    , 701
    (D.C. Cir. 2009). The CAA mandates that “[a]ll personnel
    actions affecting covered employees shall be made free from
    any discrimination based on … race, color, religion, sex, or
    national origin.” 
    2 U.S.C. § 1311
    (a). Like Title VII, the CAA
    forbids an employer from retaliating against an employee
    because of protected activity. 
    2 U.S.C. § 1317
    (a); Iyoha v.
    Architect of the Capitol, 
    927 F.3d 561
    , 566 (D.C. Cir. 2019).
    In previous cases, we have generally assumed that Title VII
    precedent applies to retaliation claims under the CAA, and we
    use the burden-shifting framework in McDonnell Douglas
    Corporation v. Green, 
    411 U.S. 792
     (1973), “to evaluate
    discrimination and retaliation claims that rely on indirect,
    circumstantial evidence.” Iyoha, 927 F.3d at 566.
    To advance a discrimination claim, the plaintiff must first
    establish a prima facie case of discrimination. Wheeler, 812
    F.3d at 1113. If she carries that initial burden, the employer
    must then “articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for
    its action.” Id. at 1114. If the employer articulates such a
    reason, the burden shifts back to the plaintiff to show the
    7
    employer’s reason was a pretext for unlawful discrimination.
    Id. This framework applies in the retaliation context as well.
    Solomon v. Vilsack, 
    763 F.3d 1
    , 14 (D.C. Cir. 2014). And in
    both contexts, if the employer has offered a nondiscriminatory
    reason for its action, the court “need not—and should not—
    decide whether the plaintiff actually made out a prima facie
    case under McDonnell Douglas.” Brady v. Office of Sergeant
    at Arms, 
    520 F.3d 490
    , 494 (D.C. Cir. 2008); see also U.S.
    Postal Serv. Bd. of Governors v. Aikens, 
    460 U.S. 711
    , 715
    (1983) (“Where the defendant has done everything that would
    be required of him if the plaintiff had properly made out a
    prima facie case, whether the plaintiff really did so is no longer
    relevant.”).
    In this case, the Capitol Police provided legitimate,
    nondiscriminatory reasons for suspending Breiterman, placing
    her on administrative leave during an investigation into the
    media leak, and demoting her from a supervisory position.
    Therefore, “we skip ahead” and focus on whether Breiterman
    has sufficiently demonstrated pretext. Wheeler, 812 F.3d at
    1114.
    Even viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to
    Breiterman, she fails to demonstrate a genuine dispute of
    material fact regarding whether the Capitol Police’s asserted
    reasons were pretextual, and so her discrimination and
    retaliation claims under the CAA fail.
    A.
    Breiterman first asserts that her two-day suspension was
    based on sex discrimination. The Capitol Police maintains that
    it suspended Breiterman because she violated the rule against
    “improper remarks” in the presence of other employees when
    she suggested that a female officer received a favorable transfer
    only because of her romantic relationship with a deputy chief,
    8
    and that women must sleep with someone in the Capitol Police
    to advance their careers. Breiterman generally admits making
    these remarks but claims that the severity of the discipline was
    a result of sex discrimination. Breiterman, however, has failed
    to offer any evidence that would support an inference that the
    Capitol Police’s reason for the two-day suspension—namely
    that Breiterman violated the rule against “improper remarks”—
    was a pretext for sex discrimination.
    Breiterman also asserts that her two-day suspension was in
    retaliation for her equal employment opportunity (“EEO”)
    complaint alleging racial discrimination when she was not
    selected for a position in the Intelligence Section. Because the
    Capitol Police has offered a legitimate non-retaliatory reason
    for the suspension, the “only question is the ultimate factual
    issue in the case—retaliation vel non.” Solomon, 763 F.3d at 14
    (cleaned up). To establish pretext, Breiterman must show
    “evidence discrediting” the Capitol Police’s asserted reasons.
    See id. at 15; see also Aikens, 
    460 U.S. at 716
     (“The plaintiff
    retains    the    burden      of    persuasion”     and   “may
    succeed … indirectly by showing that the employer’s proffered
    explanation is unworthy of credence.” (cleaned up)). This at
    least requires showing “circumstantial evidence that could
    reasonably support an inference” that those who recommended
    or imposed the two-day suspension “had knowledge of [her]
    protected activity.” Jones v. Bernanke, 
    557 F.3d 670
    , 679 (D.C.
    Cir. 2009) (cleaned up). Breiterman provides no such evidence.
    She points only to Sergeant Shutters’ knowledge of her EEO
    complaint, but Shutters was not involved in the
    recommendation or imposition of the two-day suspension.
    Breiterman’s evidence is insufficient to show that her two-day
    suspension was retaliatory.
    Because nothing in the record would allow a reasonable
    jury to conclude that the Capitol Police’s reasons were a pretext
    9
    for discrimination or retaliation in violation of the CAA, we
    affirm summary judgment for the Capitol Police on claims
    related to Breiterman’s two-day suspension.
    B.
    Breiterman next claims the Capitol Police discriminated
    against her on the basis of sex in violation of the CAA by
    placing her on paid administrative leave and demoting her.
    Breiterman admits she leaked the firearm photo to the media,
    but argues that the Capitol Police treated “similarly situated
    male employees … more favorabl[y] than her for comparable
    conduct,” and that procedural irregularities throughout her case
    evince discriminatory intent. Breiterman also argues the
    Capitol Police imposed this discipline in retaliation for her
    protected EEO complaint in violation of the CAA. The Capitol
    Police maintains it placed Breiterman on paid administrative
    leave during the investigation consistent with Capitol Police
    policy and demoted her for leaking information to the press in
    violation of the Capitol Police’s media policy. Breiterman fails
    to provide facts that demonstrate these legitimate reasons were
    a pretext for unlawful discrimination or retaliation.
    As to her discrimination claim, Breiterman points to
    several putative comparators—male employees who allegedly
    committed similar or more serious violations but whom the
    Capitol Police disciplined less severely. Evidence of an
    employer’s more favorable treatment to similarly situated
    employees without the plaintiff’s protected characteristic may
    indicate discriminatory animus. Wheeler, 812 F.3d at 1115.
    “To prove that [s]he is similarly situated to another employee,
    a plaintiff must demonstrate that [she] and the allegedly
    similarly situated employee were charged with offenses of
    comparable seriousness,” and “that all of the relevant aspects
    of [her] employment situation were nearly identical to those of
    10
    the other employee.” Burley v. Nat’l Passenger Rail Corp., 
    801 F.3d 290
    , 301 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (cleaned up). When
    determining whether an employee is an appropriate
    comparator, this court considers factors such as: “the similarity
    of the plaintiff’s and the putative comparator’s jobs and job
    duties, whether they were disciplined by the same supervisor,
    and, in cases involving discipline, the similarity of their
    offenses.” 
    Id.
    None of Breiterman’s purported comparators are similarly
    situated. Most are non-supervisory officers with different
    ranks, titles, and job duties from Breiterman. Compare
    Holbrook v. Reno, 
    196 F.3d 255
    , 261–62 (D.C. Cir. 1999)
    (difference in seniority or supervisory status renders employees
    not similarly situated), with Wheeler, 812 F.3d at 1116
    (employees working in similar units with the same seniority
    were similarly situated). As the Capitol Police explains,
    supervisors are entrusted with greater authority than officers,
    held to a higher standard, and disciplined more severely than
    officers for similar violations. Thus, Breiterman’s non-
    supervisory comparators are too dissimilar to draw any
    inference of discriminatory treatment.
    Even the three supervisory officials Breiterman cites are
    not appropriate comparators because they did not have similar
    disciplinary histories to Breiterman at the time of their
    infractions. See Burley, 801 F.3d at 301. Two of these officers
    had little or no prior disciplinary history, while the third had
    only three minor violations, two of which resulted in warnings.
    In contrast, Breiterman had been disciplined for four violations,
    two of which were serious and resulted in suspensions. These
    11
    supervisory officials are thus not similarly situated to
    Breiterman.
    Breiterman also seeks to use as comparators the male
    inspector and captain who participated with Breiterman in
    (unrelated) inappropriate text messages. The texts were
    factored into Breiterman’s punishment for the media leak, but
    the men were not punished. We agree with the district court
    that the Capitol Police’s decision to not punish these men is
    “troubling,” but neither the captain nor the inspector committed
    additional violations of “comparable seriousness.” See
    Wheeler, 812 F.3d at 1115–16. Breiterman leaked a sensitive
    photo and information to the media, and the inappropriate texts
    were considered along with her more serious infractions.
    Ultimately, Breiterman’s comparators are not similarly situated
    and therefore fail to indicate unlawful discrimination.
    Breiterman also cites alleged procedural irregularities to
    prove pretext. An employer’s “unexplained deviations from
    established procedure” may provide evidence that its proffered
    nondiscriminatory reason for an adverse employment action is
    pretextual. Iyoha, 927 F.3d at 571. But “[s]howing
    pretext … requires more than simply criticizing the employer’s
    decisionmaking process”; “we may not second-guess an
    employer’s … decision absent demonstrably discriminatory
    motive.” Hairston v. Vance-Cooks, 
    773 F.3d 266
    , 272 (D.C.
    Cir. 2014) (cleaned up). Minor procedural irregularities
    without discriminatory intent are not enough to demonstrate
    pretext.
    The alleged procedural irregularities Breiterman raises—
    the length of the investigation and being placed on
    administrative leave—do not suggest the Capitol Police’s
    reason for demoting her was pretext for unlawful
    discrimination. Although demotions may be rare, Breiterman
    12
    does not argue that the Capitol Police deviated from the
    ordinary process for discipline resulting in a demotion. At
    bottom, Breiterman disagrees with the Capitol Police’s
    decision to demote her. Without a showing of discriminatory
    animus, we have no grounds for second guessing the Capitol
    Police’s disciplinary decision. 
    Id.
    Even assuming some procedural deviation occurred, the
    deviations are not so irregular as to indicate unlawful
    discrimination. The investigation spanned about ten and a half
    months, during which time Breiterman was on paid
    administrative leave. Breiterman does not dispute it is standard
    procedure for the Capitol Police to place an employee on paid
    administrative leave until the conclusion of a disciplinary
    process that may result in termination or demotion. In fact,
    records indicate that several male officers were placed on paid
    administrative leave for ten months or more. While Breiterman
    asserts that such practice is “highly unusual,” she has not put
    forward facts to show that her leave was improper or
    unjustified. And while Capitol Police regulations require
    investigations like this one to be completed within 120 days,
    Breiterman’s investigation lasted 133 days, which is a minor
    irregularity that does not suggest discriminatory intent.
    Breiterman also claims she was demoted in retaliation for
    her previous EEO complaint in violation of the CAA. This
    claim lacks merit for the same reason as Breiterman’s other
    CAA retaliation claim. Her only evidence of retaliatory intent
    is that Sergeant Shutters was aware of her prior EEO
    complaint. But as discussed above, Breiterman offers no
    evidence that the supervisors who placed her on leave and
    13
    demoted her knew of her EEO complaint. See Jones, 
    557 F.3d at 679
    .
    We affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment
    to the Capitol Police on Breiterman’s claims that her
    administrative leave and demotion were a result of sex
    discrimination and retaliation.
    III.
    Breiterman also asserts the Capitol Police demoted her in
    retaliation for exercising her First Amendment right to freedom
    of speech and the district court erred in concluding that the
    government’s interests outweighed her interest in disclosing
    information about the unattended firearm at the Capitol.
    The First Amendment safeguards an individual’s freedom
    of speech. U.S. CONST. amend. I. Employees of the federal
    government, however, may “by necessity” have to “accept
    certain limitations on [this] freedom.” Garcetti v. Ceballos, 
    547 U.S. 410
    , 418 (2006). Without “a significant degree of control
    over [an employee’s] words and actions,” the government
    would have “little chance for the efficient provision of public
    services.” 
    Id.
     Government employment does not extinguish
    free speech rights. “The speech of public employees enjoys
    considerable, but not unlimited, First Amendment protection.”
    Wilburn v. Robinson, 
    480 F.3d 1140
    , 1149 (D.C. Cir. 2007).
    A public employee claiming retaliation for exercising her
    First Amendment rights must show: (1) she “spoke[] as a
    citizen on a matter of public concern”; (2) her interest in
    commenting on matters of public concern outweigh the
    government’s “interest in promoting the efficiency of the
    public services it performs through its employees”; (3) “her
    speech was a substantial or motivating factor in prompting the
    retaliatory or punitive act”; and (4) she can “refute the
    14
    government employer’s showing, if made, that it would have
    reached the same decision in the absence of the protected
    speech.” 
    Id.
     (cleaned up). We assume without deciding that
    Breiterman’s leak to Roll Call was a matter of public concern
    and that she spoke as a citizen, rather than in her official
    capacity. Breiterman’s claim, however, fails on the second
    prong.
    When balancing the interests of the government against
    the speech interests of its employees, we consider “the manner,
    time, and place of the employee’s expression” and “the context
    in which the dispute arose.” Rankin v. McPherson, 
    483 U.S. 378
    , 388 (1987). The strength of the government’s interest
    turns on factors such as whether the employee’s speech
    “impairs discipline by superiors or harmony among co-
    workers, has a detrimental impact on close working
    relationships for which personal loyalty and confidence are
    necessary, or impedes the performance of the speaker’s duties
    or interferes with the regular operation of the enterprise.” 
    Id.
    (citation omitted). Because of “the special degree of trust and
    discipline required in a police force,” we have concluded that
    “there may be a stronger governmental interest in regulating
    the speech of police officers than in regulating the speech of
    other governmental employees.” O’Donnell v. Barry, 
    148 F.3d 1126
    , 1135 (D.C. Cir. 1998).
    We also consider the public’s interest in obtaining
    information. When a government employee is a “member[] of
    a community most likely to have informed and definite
    opinions” about an issue, the public has an interest in not being
    “deprived of informed opinions.” Garcetti, 
    547 U.S. at
    419–20
    (cleaned up). Hence, “[t]he interest at stake is as much the
    public’s interest in receiving informed opinion as it is the
    employee’s own right to disseminate it.” 
    Id. at 420
     (cleaned
    up). And when a police officer is “uniquely qualified” to
    15
    address an issue of public concern, “we must be cautious in
    accepting the claim that the public interest demands that [s]he
    be silent.” O’Donnell, 
    148 F.3d at 1135
    .
    The Capitol Police had substantial interests in disciplining
    Breiterman for her unauthorized leak to the media. The Capitol
    Police maintains policies regarding confidentiality and the
    media to protect sensitive information in furtherance of the
    agency’s mission. The Capitol Police also has a strong interest
    in employing officers and supervisors who can keep
    confidences, especially with respect to internal investigations
    and security. See 
    id.
     Disciplining leaks—especially those that
    undermine trust and interfere with administrative and security
    functions—amply align with these interests.
    Breiterman’s conduct compromised the government’s
    interests in efficiency, harmony, and security. The leak
    interfered with the Capitol Police’s regular operations because
    for months it had to redirect resources to deal with the fallout
    from the Roll Call articles. There was a “danger that
    [Breiterman] had discredited [the Capitol Police] by making
    her statement,” see Rankin, 
    483 U.S. at 389
    , thus undermining
    the particular trust required in a police force. As a supervisor,
    Breiterman had greater responsibility to uphold the mission and
    policies of the Capitol Police, and her breach undermined her
    ability to continue in a supervisory role. See 
    id. at 390
     (“The
    burden of caution employees bear with respect to the words
    they speak will vary with the extent of authority and public
    accountability the employee’s role entails.”). Breiterman also
    violated the official media policy. See Connick v. Myers, 
    461 U.S. 138
    , 153 & n.14 (1983) (government’s interests
    strengthen when an employee violates an announced official
    policy). Breiterman’s conduct “was disruptive to the
    functioning” of the Capitol Police and threatened to “impair
    discipline or working relationships.” See Tao v. Freeh, 
    27 F.3d 16
    635, 641 n.5 (D.C. Cir. 1994). Considering all the
    circumstances, the Capitol Police had a strong interest in
    disciplining Breiterman for sharing information with the
    media.
    Turning to Breiterman’s interests, she asserts she wanted
    to speak on a matter of public safety and share details about the
    Capitol Police’s failure to remedy a pattern of unattended
    firearms. Even considering the facts in the light most favorable
    to Breiterman, the record undercuts her stated rationale. For
    instance, Breiterman explained that she decided her leak was
    “a matter of public concern” only after being placed on
    administrative leave, “consulting legal counsel,” and
    “think[ing] about everything.” Breiterman also agreed that she
    “didn’t want [Hess] to do anything about [the photo] but just
    [to] look at it.” And Breiterman discovered that other firearms
    had been left unattended only after she leaked the photo. Thus,
    she apparently had no knowledge of any wider problem with
    unattended guns and no knowledge of what actions the Capitol
    Police had taken to remedy any previous problems.
    Breiterman’s admissions diminish her interest in speaking on a
    matter of public concern.
    While we recognize the public’s interest in learning about
    a pattern of unattended firearms in the Capitol, Breiterman was
    not “uniquely qualified” to expose that information because she
    was unaware of other incidents or the response of the Capitol
    Police to those incidents. See O’Donnell, 
    148 F.3d at 1135
    ;
    Pickering v. Bd. of Educ. of Twp. High Sch. Dist. 205, 
    391 U.S. 563
    , 572 (1968) (finding teachers uniquely situated to
    participate in public discussion about how school funding
    should be spent).
    We conclude that Breiterman’s interest must give way to
    the Capitol Police’s stronger interest in efficiency, harmony,
    17
    and security. The Capitol Police disciplined Breiterman for
    leaking the information and photo because she violated the
    media policy, interfered with regular operations, damaged the
    trust among employees, and impaired her ability to serve
    effectively as a supervisor. Breiterman’s interest in disclosing
    the information and photo so a reporter could simply “view it”
    is comparatively weaker, even if motivated by safety concerns.
    In these circumstances, “a wide degree of deference to the
    employer’s judgment is appropriate” because “close working
    relationships are essential to fulfilling public responsibilities.”
    Connick, 
    461 U.S. at
    151–52. Breiterman cannot succeed on
    her First Amendment retaliation claim.
    ***
    For the forgoing reasons, we affirm the district court’s
    grant of summary judgment to the Capitol Police.
    So ordered.