A federal judge has allowed the former general counsel of the Houston Housing Authority to pursue a whistleblower claim against the authority alleging that she was terminated from her position after uncovering systemic fraud within a veteran’s housing program.

Karen Miniex served as HHA’s general counsel and vice president for four years until she was terminated in 2016. In a 2017 federal complaint she filed against HHA, Miniex alleged she consistently received outstanding job performance reviews until she discovered that HHA employees were selling vouchers to a veteran’s housing program.