Nine Years Later: Why Is Justin Chang Still at Digital Realty After Committing Perjury?

It’s been nearly a decade since Digital Realty terminated my employment in a clear-cut case of whistleblower retaliation. They took the case all the way to the United States Supreme Court — Digital Realty Trust, Inc. v. Somers — where, in the public record of that litigation, a deeply disturbing event occurred that has haunted me ever since.

During the course of the lawsuit, a Digital Realty staff attorney named Justin Chang signed a sworn declaration submitted to the court. In it, he falsely accused me of stalking him and others in Washington, D.C., during the oral arguments in my case. He went so far as to claim that I had somehow hacked into Digital’s internal systems and obtained staff itineraries to find out where they were staying. He described a scenario that was not only outlandish, but patently false — one that paints me as dangerous and unhinged, all while bolstering Digital Realty’s defense strategy.

Let me be clear: None of this ever happened.

I was in D.C. with my then-partner. I have Google location history showing my exact movements during the entire trip — every stop, every walk, every moment accounted for. There was no contact, no stalking, no digital intrusion, no suspicious behavior. Just a man fighting for justice.

Justin Chang was not alone in submitting false statements. Digitals former general counsel, Josh Mills, somehow “witnessed” the exact same fabricated events. It’s hard to ignore the strong possibility that Digital’s counsel, Brian Ashe of Seyfarth Shaw, ghostwrote these declarations as part of a coordinated smear campaign. If Chang and Mills simply signed what they were handed without verifying the contents, that’s one form of misconduct. If they knowingly lied under oath, that’s perjury — plain and simple.

Either way, their actions permanently damaged my reputation and employability. These court filings are public, searchable, and deeply defamatory. They serve no legitimate legal purpose except to discredit me and paint me as a threat — all to distract from Digital’s wrongdoing.

And what’s most galling? Justin Chang is still employed at Digital Realty. In fact he’s a vice president. Chang has never admitted to his crime. He’s never apologized and he’s never tried to clear this up.

There has been no retraction, no internal accountability, no investigation — not even a public acknowledgment of wrongdoing. In a world where trust, transparency, and ethics are supposed to matter, Digital Realty has chosen to look the other way. That silence implicates the entire company, not just the individuals who participated in the smear.

It’s been nine years. I’ve spoken out, provided evidence, and offered to cooperate in any good faith investigation. Still nothing.

This isn’t just about me anymore. It’s about what kind of company Digital Realty truly is. A company that rewards perjury? That uses fabricated accusations as legal strategy? That destroys reputations to win in court?

If Justin Chang had any integrity, he would have come forward by now. He knows what he’s done. He knows it was false. And so does Digital Realty.

Until someone inside that company decides to do the right thing, I’ll continue to tell the truth — because silence is complicity.

Jeannie Lee, general counsel at Digital Realty has an obligation to ensure her staff acts honestly and ethically. I am requesting she bring a third party expert to investigate Mr. Chang’s allegations. With that report in hand, she can pursue prosecution of Mr. Chang. Chang owes me a signed and sworn statement admitting to his crime along with an apology. Monetary damages to the victim are well overdue both from Chang and Digital Realty.

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Paul Somers

Whistleblower. Former Digital Realty VP. Supreme Court Plaintiff.