House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) said on Sunday that House Democrats may not ask the whistleblower at the heart of the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump to testify.
Schiff told CBS’ “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan that before Trump began threatening the whistleblower with “Big Consequences,” Democrats leading the impeachment inquiry “were” interested in having him or her testify.
“Not anymore?” Brennan asked.
“Well, our primary interest right now is making sure that that person is protected,” the Democratic lawmaker said. “Indeed, now there’s more than one whistleblower, that they are protected.”
Schiff said that a testimony from the whistleblower may not be needed since Democrats already have the call record on Trump’s conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Trump pushed Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden while discussing military aid to Ukraine.
Democrats want to “identify other evidence” regarding Trump’s decision to freeze nearly $400 million in funds for the aid, according to Schiff.
“It may not be necessary to take steps that might reveal the whistleblower’s identity to do that,” he said. “And we’re going to make sure we protect that whistleblower.”
Watch Schiff below:
Schiff says House Intel Committee may not have whistleblower testify: "Our primary interest right now is making sure that that person is protected." pic.twitter.com/V7nWXzjGzS
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) October 13, 2019
“Come on, shy whistleblowers. Don’t be scared. Blow your little whistles!”
Since virtually everything in his report has been admitted to by Trump or corroborated by other evidence, there is nothing to be gained by calling him. America doesn’t need the distraction from Republican hate media.
Fine with me, not sure what other information the whistle blower can provide in person, and keeping him/her anonymous helps prevent drump from attacking directly, and a side bonus it drives drump crazy not knowing who it is.
Excellent. No need to out the whistleblower and put him or her in danger from the dark forces. And more whistleblowers will come forward if the first one is protected.
Does that mean that there are no other unknowns that the whistleblower would say other than the call report? It sure seemed like there were more things than just the call in the WB report.