The Democratic Party’s campaign to take out President Donald Trump draws more concern as House Democrats are considering “extraordinary steps” to prevent Republicans from learning the identity of the whistleblower who prompted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s formal impeachment inquiry.
The person in the center of the complaint that drew attention to the president’s July 25th call with Ukraine is being desperately shielded from the president’s and public knowledge. Not only are California Rep. Adam Schiff and his team attempting to mask the whistleblower’s identity by obscuring the individual’s appearance and voice, but according to the Washington Post, they are also considering having the person testify from an off-site location. If that’s not suspicious enough, Democrats also want to prevent lawmakers from asking the whistleblower any questions.
These efforts by the Democratic Party show the growing distrust between those running the impeachment inquiry of President Trump and their GOP colleagues who they have determined to be set to defend the president, who has repeatedly attacked the whistleblower’s credibility due to lies and fraud already seen.
The Washington Post indicated that this would be the first time the panel has taken such a “highly unusual arrangement,” and called it an unprecedented move.
This response from the Democrats comes after reports that Schiff was made aware of details about the whistleblower complaint several days before it was officially filed. In fact, the New York Times reported that the CIA officer (whistleblower) had indeed conferred with Schiff’s aides on the House Intel Committee. This was reported after Schiff was quoted as saying,” We have not spoken directly to the whistleblower.”
Major concerns are shared by Republicans like Rep. Devin Nunes of California, a member of the House Intel Committee. He told the Washington Examiner last week that Democrats are conducting a secret impeachment to hide a lack of evidence.
“I call it faux impeachment,” said Nunes. “By running it in the House Intelligence Committee, they’re trying to keep all of the information from the American public. And I understand why. Because every witness we have that comes in bombs out for them.”
Rep. Steve Scalise, (R-LA) posted on his social media account asking what the Dems are trying to hide, “This entire process has been a scam. Dems now plan to only allow themselves and their staff to know the whistleblower’s identity while concealing it from Republican committee members. This is unprecedented. What are they trying to hide??” he tweeted.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R-SC) chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said should the Democrats’ impeachment effort actually reach the Senate, he will make it a point to call the whistleblower to testify publicly.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Graham said. “If the whistleblowers’ allegations are turned into an impeachment article it’s imperative that the whistleblower be interviewed in public, under oath, and cross-examined.” He added that no one in America “goes to jail or has anything done to them without confronting their accuser.”
