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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCan Trump Legally Out The Whistleblower? Experts Say It Would Not Violate Any Laws (NPR)
"If Trump thinks he knows the name, he can come out and say it, and he's probably as protected as anyone is," said Robert Litt, former general counsel for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence under President Barack Obama.
Litt and several other legal experts who talked to NPR said Trump uttering or tweeting the name could in theory trigger an article of impeachment for retaliating against a whistleblower, but it would not run afoul of any federal criminal statutes.
Similarly, if a news outlet, member of Congress or member of the public outed the whistleblower, legal experts said, no criminal law would be violated.
"There is no overarching protection for the identity of the whistleblower under federal law," said Dan Meyer, a lawyer and the former executive director of the intelligence community whistleblower program. "Congress has never provided that protection."
Litt and several other legal experts who talked to NPR said Trump uttering or tweeting the name could in theory trigger an article of impeachment for retaliating against a whistleblower, but it would not run afoul of any federal criminal statutes.
Similarly, if a news outlet, member of Congress or member of the public outed the whistleblower, legal experts said, no criminal law would be violated.
"There is no overarching protection for the identity of the whistleblower under federal law," said Dan Meyer, a lawyer and the former executive director of the intelligence community whistleblower program. "Congress has never provided that protection."
https://www.npr.org/2019/11/06/776481504/can-trump-legally-out-the-whistleblower-experts-say-it-would-not-violate-any-law
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This is all about being vindictive. Trump can't stand it that he has not been able to bully this person. If Trump or the GOP out the WB, it will essentially be like a call for a mob hit.
The truth is that the whistleblower is no longer relevant. We have learned more than what the whistleblower had told us through the process with witnesses and documentation.
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Can Trump Legally Out The Whistleblower? Experts Say It Would Not Violate Any Laws (NPR) (Original Post)
mysteryowl
Nov 2019
OP
If Trump actually knew who the whistleblower was, he would have outed him already.
Arkansas Granny
Nov 2019
#1
Arkansas Granny
(31,484 posts)1. If Trump actually knew who the whistleblower was, he would have outed him already.
Not only is Trump vindictive, he all know that he can't keep a secret.
50 Shades Of Blue
(9,785 posts)2. It's also about intimidating future whistleblowers.
safeinOhio
(32,537 posts)3. Very short sighted...
There may come a day when they won't want a whistleblower exposed.