When an employer admits to a violation in writing to the federal government, should they be held accountable to their words?

QUESTIONS PRESENTED When an employer admits to a violation in writing to the federal government, should they be held accountable to their words? When a protected activity is made, is it protected ,or is the bar so low where it can be disrupted by a ALJ simply saying that person was not telling the truth when they made the complaint? Once a protected activity is established, can an ALJ ask for it to be interpreted to mean something different than the protected activity? 3 OPINIONS BELOW The opinion of the Court of Appeals is the reported at 17-1095 and 19-2135. JURISDICTION The Court of Appeals entered judgment on April 7, 2020. A petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc was denied on June 9, 2020. RELEVANT STATUTORY PROVISION The Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA), 49 U.S.C & 31105.