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A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 9 November 2019
Whistleblower disputes boil over in impeachment interview

By MATTHEW DALY tleblower "should be sued.
Associated Press And maybe for treason."
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tran- During questioning last
scripts released Friday in month of Lt. Col. Alexan-
the impeachment inquiry der Vindman, a top Trump
show Republicans and national security adviser,
Democrats repeatedly skir- Republicans repeatedly
mishing over GOP ques- asked questions that could
tions that appeared aimed reveal the whistleblower's
at drawing out the identity identity — leading to sharp
of the whistleblower who exchanges with Democrats
filed the initial complaint and Vindman's lawyer.
against President Don- The chairman of the House
ald Trump. Trump himself Intelligence Committee,
speculated that the whis- Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.,

Former National Security Council Director for European Affairs Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman returns
to the Capitol to review transcripts of his testimony in the impeachment inquiry of President Donald
Trump, in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019.
Associated Press
finally intervened, saying: "It Volkov then shot back: cally does not reveal the
is the ruling of the chair that "What I'm telling you right identity of whistleblowers.
the witness shall not iden- now is you have to protect Trump and other Repub-
tify employees, detailees the identity of a whistle- licans have blasted the
or contractors of the intel- blower. I get that there media for not reporting the
ligence agency, or provide may be political overtones. name of a person identi-
information that may lead You guys go do what you fied in conservative circles
to the revelation of the got to do, but do not put as the whistleblower. So far
identity of the whistleblow- this man ln the middle of it." Trump has avoided using
er, someone whose life has Volkov added that he had the name publicly.
been put at risk." "never seen either party Schiff repeatedly sparred
Democrats "are deter- ever try to out a whistle- with Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan,
mined to protect the right blower in the same con- the top Republican on the
of that whistleblower to certed way that is going on House Oversight Commit-
remain anonymous," Schiff in here." tee, one of the three com-
said, "and we will not allow That prompted argument mittees conducting the
bad-faith efforts to out this with Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., closed-door interviews.
whistleblower." over where the GOP was Jordan was named Friday
Vindman's lawyer, Mi- going with their questions. to the House Intelligence
chael Volkov, said his client "You know what? I know panel, where he and Schiff
would not answer questions what you're going to say," are likely to do combat
about how many people, Volkov said angrily. "I al- with each other at public
other than State Depart- ready know what you're hearings scheduled next
ment official George Kent, going to do, okay? And week.
he told about concerns I don't want to hear the "We fully care about pro-
he had over Trump's July Fox News questions, okay? tecting the whistleblower.
25 call with the president Yeah, yeah, that's exactly In fact, you're the only
of Ukraine. The call, and right." one who knows who these
Trump's request for a "fa- Zeldin then tried to assure people are who started this
vor" from Ukraine are the Volkov that Republicans whole thing," Jordan shot
basis of the impeachment were not attempting to out back, referring to early con-
inquiry. the whistleblower. tacts the whistleblower had
Pressed repeatedly, Volkov "That's not true. I don't be- with Democratic staffers on
said of his client: "Look, he lieve you," Volkov retorted. the Intelligence panel.
came here. He tells you U.S. whistleblower laws ex- At another point, as Schiff
he's not the whistleblower, ist to protect the identity again urged a GOP law-
okay? He says he feels un- and careers of people who yer not to attempt to "out"
comfortable about it. Try bring forward accusations the whistleblower, Jordan
and respect his feelings at of wrongdoing by govern- interjected: "Mr. Chairman,
this point." ment officials. Lawmakers his lawyer can serve as his
A person then identified in both parties have histori- lawyer. You can just serve
only as "voice" interjects: cally backed those protec- as the chairman. We can
"We're uncomfortable im- tions. ask the questions we want
peaching the president." The Associated Press typi- to ask."q