Posted on 11/07/2019 9:01:49 AM PST by edwinland
n recent days, President Trump and his allies have amplified their calls for the whistleblower who sparked the impeachment inquiry to be identified, presenting the question of whether it would be a crime for the president to unmask the anonymous whistleblower.
According to four former top federal government officials who worked in intelligence and national security, the answer is no.
"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."
Fisa drop...darn spell check.
It may not be illegal but it would certainly be found to be an impeachable offense....
Schiff has already outted the whistle leaker in official government transcripts he failed to redact. All anyone has to say now is, “Eric Ciaramella, as listed in the official transcripts of the testimony by...”
It is a done deal. He has been outted by Schiff. So every GOP politician and conservative talk host should repeat his name early and often, citing the transcripts of the testimony as the source.
Eric Ciaramella?
It’s funny how leaky the government is when it comes to attacking trump politically, but when the left don’t want something to come out noone leaks anything-
Wish a whistle blower would come out leaking the name of the whistleblower
Why also these pretense that the si-called “Whistleblower” (note the quotes) is anonymous?
We already know that his name is Eric Ciamarela. There, I said it.
We also know a lot about his background.
So, why still pretend?
“Legally”!?
Legally the whistleblower can’t do what he did.
Legally there is no charge or impeachment.
When the hell are people going to realize that for one side THERE IS NO LEGALLY!?
Uh, NPR - HELLO, the silly little whistle blower has been outed for a good bit of time.
Get with it. Pull your heads out...of your Obamaholes.
Are you sure he can say Eric Ciaramella?
Yep. The rats are incompetent and so is the media.
Don Jr. has already let the cat out of the page, the media dutifully ignores the name but attacks the messenger.
I’m not sure?
Has anyone asked Nancy and her little Schitt if it is ok?
Can but should’t.
First, Trump doesn’t know. Nor do any of the Republican congressmen. They all think it’s Eric C. but until the IG or Schiff confirms, they just don’t know.
The only whistleblower law of which I am aware is that they may not be retaliated against for any truthful information they reveal. But lies like this one are on the table.
Yes, they want something to add to impeachment charges. Let Trump Jr do it, citing public sources.
Too late! The alternative media has already done so!
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