GOP argues whistleblower's name must be public

[left-of-center2012]

As the evidence mounts of a quid pro quo in President Trump's dealings with Ukraine, the president's allies in Congress are increasingly hopeful they’ll find exoneration in a singular figure: the government whistleblower they're fighting to expose.

The clash over the whistleblower's identity — and that person’s right to anonymity — has emerged as a frontline battle in the partisan war over the Trump impeachment inquiry.

Republicans on Capitol Hill contend that knowing the whistleblower’s identity is vital to the process, granting Trump the right to face his accuser — and learn of any political biases the figure might have. They are effectively waging a whisper campaign about the identity of the anonymous figure who filed the complaint triggering the inquiry launched just six weeks ago.

Democrats counter that the GOP efforts to out the whistleblower violate federal law and are a dangerous game that could jeopardize the safety of the individual.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/468631-gop-argues-whistleblowers-name-must-be-public

[spanone]

1. They want a target on the whistleblowers back.

[riversedge]

3. given all the RW crazies and folks like Hannity cheering them on, I really

do fear for the safely of the whistleblower--and his or her family.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

11. I heard a EW radio host rant, "I want the whistleblowers' name, I want

his wife's name, I want to know if he has children, I want his home address, I want to know where he works, I want his telephone number, I want the name of his dog (!), I want to know which church he attends, I want to know what bank he uses..." and so on for nearly a minute. It's clear the information would be used to intimidate the individual, or worse, given the mindset of a lot of Trump followers. ("A Second Amendment solution" is how Fat Donnie described it when he was running for president.)

There's a reason that Congress was wise enough to include anonymity into the whistleblower law; they anticipated the target taking revenge on them. They just didn't anticipate a target as powerful and as ruthless as Trump and his minons.

For the record, a whistleblower is not an accuser in the legal sense. He has the same function as a citizen who makes an anonymous call to the local police about a crime. Under the GOP logic (or what passes for logic in their warped brains), police tip lines would be unnecessary, since they use anonymous sources to provide leads to investigate.

[EndlessWire]

18. Yep... n/t

[Maeve]

2. The whistleblower is no longer important

tRump's own words and the testimony of others proved everything s/he said was true.

F*** the Republicans on Capitol Hill

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Exactly right. He/she merely set the wheels in motion.

Trump will bury himself.

[Celerity]

6. [phone]

[Arkansas Granny]

8. Absolutely correct. His allegations have been verified by persons with first hand knowledge of the

conversation. Trumpco needs a focus for their hatred in order to keep the cult engaged. The fact that exposure will put the whistleblower at risk means nothing to them.

[Efilroft Sul]

5. Take what happened to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford after testifying against Brett Kavanaugh...

…and amp up the threat level exponentially.

She and her family received multiple death threats. As of a year ago, they've had to move four times. The crazies want her dead; just imagine what Trump will say or tweet that will enable his cult to justify a hit on the whistleblower.

"He can't testify if he's dead, heh heh heh..."

[PSPS]

7. "the GOP efforts to out the whistleblower violate federal law"

There is no "law" when the justice department has been captured by a criminal mob. The RW smearing wurlitzer is all warmed up and ready to go. If "something bad" happens to the poor schmuck, gee, that would be too bad. But, hey! Thoughts and prayers, baby!

[Celerity]

9. There are at least 100 million MAGATs in the US, counting family members and

non 2016 voters. If just 1 one hundredth of 1 percent (so one in 10 thousand) are capable of violent, deadly action, that is a potential group of at least 10,000 goons that Rump, the Rethugs and their chorus of hate in the RW media will dog whistle to over the coming months to take '2nd Amendment measues' against any and all 'enemies' of Rump. The whistleblower will be up near the top of that list.

[sop]

10. Trump's tax returns should be made public

So should all the voice recordings of Trump's calls and transcripts of his meetings with Putin.

[global1]

12. I Wouldn't Be Surprised If Trump Put A Reward Out To Congressional Repugs.....

to provide him with the name of the whistleblower. Trump wants to exact his revenge on this person. That's my guess why the Repugs are out looking for this name.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

13. K&R

[struggle4progress]

14. "We can't intimidate whistle-blowers if we can't learn their names"

[Vinca]

15. There's no reason for the whistleblower to be involved at all anymore since Don the stable genius

supported everything in the whistleblower's report when he released his memo-that-is-not-a-transcript.

[gratuitous]

16. And yet donors to their PACs must remain anonymous?

Which poses the question: Flaming or raging hypocrisy?

[superpatriotman]

17. It's already public

For those paying attention, scumbags rand Paul and Louie Gohmert puked it out through their social media accounts