Impeachment: Trump's son tweets name of alleged whistleblower
Source: Yahoo News
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump's son published on Wednesday the name of the alleged anonymous whistleblower whose complaint fired the impeachment inquiry against Trump, breaking strict conventions for protecting officials who reveal wrongdoing in government.
Amid calls by the president himself to expose the whistleblower, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted the name of a CIA analyst which has circulated online for weeks, and linked to a Breitbart news article implying the person was pro-Democrat and anti-Trump.
AFP could not independently verify the whistleblower's identity and is not publishing the name.
But the revelation by the president's son comes as the White House seeks to discredit the mounting impeachment effort in Congress against Trump, painting it as driven by politics.
Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/impeachment-trumps-son-tweets-name-alleged-whistleblower-154514305.html
Maybe it was decided, Jr. does not have anything to lose for Big Daddy.
Stuart G
(38,414 posts)0rganism
(23,937 posts)might be the whistleblower, might not. now that person and everyone with a similar name and all their immediate families are at risk.
this enemies-list-style criminal bullshit needs to be stomped out pronto. unfortunately, no one can and/or will do it.
certainly not AG Barr.
DENVERPOPS
(8,806 posts)Worse yet, is it puts a damper on anyone else coming forward on any matter whatsoever. The whistleblower's name/identity is supposed to be kept completely confidential. And more importantly, people who have information will be reluctant to come forth to blow the whistle or testify, now or in the future.......
0rganism
(23,937 posts)i hope there's a way back from here
DENVERPOPS
(8,806 posts)With today's news of Donnie Jr. publicly naming the whistleblower I doubt ANY whistleblower now or in the future will be thinking about being in a history book or their 15 minutes of fame. Their only thoughts will be surviving until they testify and afterwards.
My question would be, how did Donnie Jr, Linsey Graham, etc etc etc all find out the name/identity of the whistleblower??????????
Especially on something this momentous, that person not only has to worry about Trump, The Republicans in Congress, all their 50 million MAGGOT followers, but even foreign governments and U.S. Corporations that will be rocked by us impeaching their leader.
0rganism
(23,937 posts)it's a call for utter subjugation to everyone in government
"bow down to Dear Leader, or we expose you and your family, or maybe some random person and their family, to an endless stream of character vandalism and death threats. doesn't have to be related to anything you actually worked on, we'll make it up if we want to."
Tangeranus has queued up some gravely criminal abuses of power
Maxheader
(4,371 posts)if the little brats had to make it in this world on their own initiative...guaranteed..
MartyTheGreek
(565 posts)cstanleytech
(26,280 posts)confirmed it then would that in of itself be a crime on his part?
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Assuming they (or somebody in the filthy chain of provenance) is a Federal employee.
onenote
(42,686 posts)a crime (even though it should be).
https://www.npr.org/2019/11/06/776481504/can-trump-legally-out-the-whistleblower-experts-say-it-would-not-violate-any-law
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,661 posts)is intended to cause or results in retaliation, which is what the statute was intended to address?
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,661 posts)AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts).....for charging anyone.
I just read the 4&5th amendments again...I don't see the "but it seems pretty obvious" part.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,661 posts)I'm a retired lawyer who once taught constitutional law, so I know very well that they'd have to prove intent. My shorthand comment was intended only to point out that there seems to be quite a bit of evidence, from many statements made by Trump and various members of Congres that the GOPers' desire to disclose the whistleblower's name was for the purpose of discrediting and disparaging him. If that isn't retaliation I don't know what is.
BTW, the 4th Amendment has only to do with unreasonable searches and seizures; the 5th Amendment covers double jeopardy, the right to confront witnesses and due process, but doesn't address the standard of proof. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt has always been required in criminal cases under common law, but it wasn't until in re Winship in 1970 that the Supreme Court held that it is a constitutional requirement of due process.
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)I used them ONLY as counter to your "but it seems pretty obvious "rationalization".
Would you go into court with a "but it seems pretty obvious." prosecution?
Would you go into court with a "but it seems pretty obvious." defense?
I'd hope not in either case..the prosecution would get thrashed by the Judge and the defendant would have 100 reasons to appeal...on the "pure idiocy clause"
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,661 posts)My point was that there does seem to be substantial evidence; but clearly if it is to be the basis of a prosecution it would have to be documented and evaluated as to its weight and credibility, as in any other case. I wasn't trying to suggest that an offhand remark on an internet message board is the equivalent of evidence to be presented in court.
The WB statute itself doesn't specify penalties, so this discussion is purely academic.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)First lets identify the statute in question.
The relevant statute is 5 USC 2302. It prohibits certain types of personnel actions in response to someone reporting violations of law. It was nothing to do with identifying anyone, and certainly doesnt apply to Jr.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,661 posts)I was incoherently trying to explain a couple of different and somewhat irrelevant points. The statute itself doesn't have a lot of teeth and applies only to government agencies. I do think that identifying a whistleblower could be construed as a form of retaliation under some circumstances.
Igel
(35,296 posts)AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Son of a bitch! Add the WPA to the list of repairs needed after Pres. Turd and his minions are banished.
https://www.npr.org/2019/11/06/776481504/can-trump-legally-out-the-whistleblower-experts-say-it-would-not-violate-any-law
AllaN01Bear
(18,125 posts)Igel
(35,296 posts)The response is either, "How dare they!" or "what a patriot!"
It's like taking steps to prevent leaks or punish them: The response is either "how fascist of them!" or "good, confidentiality is important."
The laws are the same in both cases. What's different is the willingness to enforce the law over preference.
I don't like when confidential information is leaked. I'm pretty much always on the "how dare they!" side.
Arkansas Granny
(31,514 posts)Trump Jr. should be held responsible. There are Trump supporters out there who would act on that info. Think of the pipe bomber.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Turd Jr might be immune?
However, whoever gave Turd Jr the name, has committed a crime.
onenote
(42,686 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,661 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,661 posts)Outing the WB probably constitutes retaliation but there are no specific consequences for the outer. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/11/06/yes-outing-whistleblower-is-against-law-law-is-toothless/
trueblue2007
(17,203 posts)AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)Stuart G
(38,414 posts)Hard to believe he could be "stupider" WAIT, JUNIOR TWEETED THE NAME, UPON ORDERS FROM HIS FATHER!!!!!!
.............that is the reason this was done.....
Response to Stuart G (Reply #9)
AncientGeezer This message was self-deleted by its author.
Nitram
(22,781 posts)All the evidence in the inquiry is coming from other witnesses.
JudyM
(29,225 posts)Last edited Wed Nov 6, 2019, 08:34 PM - Edit history (1)
And thats all tRump needs to stay afloat with his minions.
Nitram
(22,781 posts)JudyM
(29,225 posts)today if itd really be ok with her if tRump actually shot someone on 5th Ave. Her response? Depends what he shot them for. And you could see that she thought herself so clever for coming up with this defense/parry.
Nitram
(22,781 posts)no knowledge, and no intellect. Maybe they are harbingers of the zombie apocalypse.
Funny and chilling at the same time.
pwb
(11,258 posts)Just like daddy Donny.
Raine
(30,540 posts)for a couple of weeks already.
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)sakabatou
(42,146 posts)AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)elias7
(3,997 posts)Aussie105
(5,377 posts)Need hundreds of people to contact the radio stations, TV stations and print media with the same complaint.
"Hey, that whistleblower guy? It ain't him, 'caus it is me. And that ain't my name!"
olddad65
(599 posts)His brother has been blowing his dads whistle and he is jealous. So is his sister.