Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comment from Equifax, which initially declined to comment.

A former auditor has sued Equifax, charging that he was punished for spotting ways that the company was allegedly violating the law, told to lie to the federal government about what he found and eventually fired, he contends, for telling the truth.

Stephen Leary, an auditor at the financial technology company from 2018 to July 2020, alleges he uncovered “numerous, serious violations of the Consumer Financial Protection Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other laws, rules, orders, standards, and prohibitions,” according to the lawsuit filed earlier this month in U.S. District Court in Atlanta. Leary has asked for reinstatement to his former position and an unspecified amount of money in damages.

Equifax initially declined to comment. After publication online, Equifax spokeswoman Kate Walker said the company will fight the suit.

“Equifax denies Mr. Leary’s allegations,” she said. “Mr. Leary was terminated in July 2020 for poor performance. Furthermore, Mr. Leary’s internal complaints were thoroughly investigated and found to be unsubstantiated.”

And while the company is required to respond in a court filing to Leary, it has not yet done so as of Thursday afternoon.

An attorney for Leary also declined to comment.

Leary’s job was to assess the firm’s operations to see if they complied with federal law and the regulations set by the Consumer Financial Protection...

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