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© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Trump allies push to unmask whistleblower on Ukraine
By ZEKE MILLER WASHINGTON©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
80 Comments
Chip Star
Agreed. Open the hearings to the public so we can all see how corrupt Donny is and how much the republicans approve of it.
Agreed. What's it like to be from a country without openness and transparency?
This is absolutely inaccurate. A whistleblower report is not a leak. This must be the new talking point for Trunpophiles and paid trolls.
Yubaru
A "whistler-blower" is not a spy either! Trump is doing his best to play word games, in the court of public opinion, to discredit whomever was responsible.
If this person is outed, it is going to make others who want to come forward to second guess themselves and allow those who are breaking the law to get away with it!
If Trump and his people had nothing to hide, they wouldnt be working so hard to discredit them!
Yubaru
Really now? One must consider that the current process is akin to a grand jury investigation. You and far too many others have been fooled into thinking that is "must be" an open process. It does not, not at this point in time!
The committees are investigating, like a grand jury, on whether or not they believe their is enough evidence to submit the articles of impeachment to the full house.
Once it gets to the point that they believe they have a case, just like prosecutors, they will open up the investigation and questioning to the public. Once that is completed, they will forward it to the full house to vote upon.
If the vote is in favor for impeachment, the president is then considered to be "impeached" and will face a trial in the full senate, who will hear the trial, and then vote on guilt or innocence and also determine the "sentence" if any.
Too many American's do not even know, nor take the time to understand the process, and they, like you here, are addicted to the media telling you what to think and how to act!
Chip Star
Correct. I've been explaining this repeatedly to no avail. Trumpophiles are being willfully ignorant on this point in order to disparage the proceedings.
Black Sabbath
The whistleblower's identity has been irrelevant for quite some time now.
Silly Republicans.
Yubaru
People with half a brain understand this, but it's the Trump followers that harp on this point all the time time.
Their ignorant argument that is if the whistle blower's "evidence" was third party knowledge, and if it was the basis for the impeachment inquiry, then the entire process should be thrown out, even if credible evidence was found during the process.
They are fighting this as if it were a court battle, and are trying to get the public to think the same thing.
However this process is NOT a court battle, as of yet, just an inquiry, and it can not be thrown out of "court" because if was based upon "faulty" evidence in the first place.
bass4funk
It’ll come out, no need to rush. It’s Washington, nothing stays secret or buried for a long time.
SuperLib
The whistleblower's identity is irrelevant at this point. Trump and the GOP want the identity exposed for two reasons:. to justify letting an obviously guilty Trump off the hook and to scare other potential whistleblowers from coming forward out of fear.
Everyone knows Trump is guilty. The key for the GOP is finding a way for Trump to get away with it anyway.
bass4funk
Oh, stop! If the situation were reversed and the Republicans had a whistleblower, there is No way on God’s green Earth that the Democrats wouldn’t try to find out the identity of this individual. So it does matter. Especially knowing that the person is a partisan Democrat and a close to one of the Democrat candidates.
Really, so then we don’t need a trial? So then according to Democrats he’s guilty until proven innocent, so the constitution means nothing to them. Interesting....
The key for the Democrats according to congressman Green and to quote him, “I’m afraid if we don’t impeach this President he could get re-elected.”
Blacklabel
We have known who it was for sometime.
the liberal media will never report the name unless it in some way helps the Dems. Or if they need to make Biden quit the race to let someone else get the nomination.
Blacklabel
“Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there’s something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don’t think we should go down that path, because it divides the country. And he’s just not worth it.”
every Republican voted against their biased rules to make Schiff an independent counsel level player. How is this bipartisan?
Ah_so
Well I want to know who the man was who finally provided the evidence that Trump is nothing more than a cheap crook who abuses his power.
He deserves a hero's welcome through the streets of Washington.
stormcrow
Trump allies push to unmask whistleblower on Ukraine
Why?! Everything's gone way past that at this point. The only reason for wanting to know who the whistleblower is now would be to spite or harm in some vindictive & vengeful way.
Yubaru
So, outing the person is ok in your book? Does not matter whether this is true or not, what matters is it is now and it's the Rep. that are doing it.
Doesnt make it right, particularly when there are specific laws on the books preventing it!
Ah_so
Wouldn't surprise me if information like this has been leaked to foreign powers like Russia.
SuperLib
Howso?
ANd of course Democrats would never do the same thing. We elect Nobel Peace Prize winners. You elect con men. We'd never put ourselves in that position.
Chip Star
No, you haven't. You're putting far too much faith into anonymous sources and the conservative medias speculation. Hilarious given you constantly rail on these things when the information cuts against your narratives.
SuperLib
Sucks to be you.
Chip Star
Two wrongs make a right. The simplistic world of Trumpophiles must be comforting.
Blacklabel
So your side just keeps doing wrongs first and then hides behind two wrongs don’t make a right? How convenient when you always make sure to do your wrong first.
Blacklabel
Same way you claim to know what was said in Schiffs secret meetings in the basement when nothing has been released. Replace conservative with liberal which has 100 times more outlets to smear with.
SuperLib
Relax, black. We're just teasing you.
Of course the identity of the whistleblower should be kept secret. Trump fans would immediately start issuing death threats.
Blacklabel
Dems “shift course” when they lie. schiff said the whistleblower would testify. Before it was found his staff coached him and that he is associated with Biden. Now he can’t testify.
bass4funk
They have been since this President announced his candidacy and have been continuously trying to overturn this election, failing, but still trying.
Yes, Obama was elected for what? Not being GWB or for just being Black, he just became President, that’s it. That was the biggest joke. No liberal can tell or say why he was awarded something without doing anything.
Hmmm..you guys elected Clinton, don’t get more con then that.
April 1st has already past us this year. Lol!
Blacklabel
You don’t elect Nobel prize winners. You have it backwards. They are given the prize for doing nothing but being elected.
In anticipation of all the wonderful things they will do, but don’t.
kinda like how reporters for Russian collusion stories got pulitzers prizes before we even found out the stories were wrong.
SimondB
Which is why Trump is so worried.
SuperLib
So what if he was elected for just being black? Does that bother you?
bass4funk
Saying Trump is worried is equivalent to saying Trump is the skinniest President in US history.
bass4funk
It does, because what is the criteria and requirements for receiving the award? So then if race is the criteria or whatever makes the organization feel good then Trump should get one for being a Populist or Candace Owen’s should get one for being a role model and conservative Black woman or Ric Grenell For being A White gay conservative.
Jimizo
How do you know he’s not worried? Did Fox News say this which you watched via satellite in Japan?
bass4funk
How do you know he is?
Toasted Heretic
Why do Trumpists always bring race and color into it? But great deflection from the dubious goings on of Trump loyalists, trying to unmask the brave whistle blower.
Toasted Heretic
That's a rather convoluted sentence, which doesn't answer my question. Instead, it's a rambling diatribe on liberals like every single post you ever posted. Also, "to bates" doesn't make any sense. I guess that Trumpists are still fixated on Obama and whilst they remain muted on the disgraceful birther issue, I think it's obvious that they're not quite over it. I mean, why else would they deflect from their disgraceful efforts to unmask (and possibly put in danger) the whistle blower?
As the article points out - U.S. whistleblower laws exist to protect the identities and careers of people who bring forward accusations of wrongdoing by government officials. Lawmakers in both parties have historically backed those protections.
But something has gone very wrong, under the lawbreaking Trump administration. If there is a coup (as Trump insanely claims) let's hope they remove all the corrupt detritus from the GOP. And no pardons.
ulysses
Diversionary tactics from Donny and Trumplets who are crapping in their pants with the information getting released every day.
Not only has the whistleblower been corroborated but it turns out the situation is much worse for donny. We need the full transcript of the call between Donny and Zelensky , not the watered down version that's been peddled.
lincolnman
Why is it every time a Repub or a Trumper mentions Obama, they have to include his race?
We know why....so do Trump supporters David Duke and Richard Spencer - and all those other "very fine people" out there...
Ref this article, as has been pointed out, the Whistle Blower is now irrelevant to impeachment - we've already had Donnie, Crazy Rudy, Mulvaney and a parade of State Dept officials all say it was a QPQ shakedown, verifying everything in the initial complaint.
This stunt by the Repubs has only two goals; to distract from the mountain of evidence proving the QPQ, and to attempt to coerce and punish other Whistle Blowers from coming forward.
Pure intimidation - which also happens to be unlawful...
https://searchcompliance.techtarget.com/definition/Whistleblower-Protection-Act
Chip Star
Incorrect. I never claimed to know what was said in the basement.
Serrano
It's going to be a Red 2020.
bass4funk
Ok, so liberals once again don’t have any logical justification or reason to explain their obsession with race as usual
As I have said, I know Washington, nothing stays hidden for long, it’ll come out sooner or later.
What about the law breaking corrupt Democrats?
Ahhhh, so damn and screw the voters, screw democracy. Spoken like a true socialist. Deny people any and all rights as we se fit. Your vote doesn’t count, we Democrats say so. Nice.
Blacklabel
So all the comments about what was said by all people interviewed by Schiff is just speculation then.
Serrano
This is the most corrupt House of Representatives in the history of the United States. The Democrats are going to pay dearly for this in 2020.
Serrano
I would say let's start impeachment of the next Democrat president today but there's never going to be another Democrat president.
bass4funk
Kind of an understatement there...
But yeah, Democrats think Karma is a one-sided phenomenon or that they’re immune to it. But the bigger question when Trump wins re-election what the heck will these Democrats do then? Go for another impeachment? He really would be unleashed and the Dems would either have to work with him or further squander their chances by resisting him and ignoring their constituents and be known for not doing anything for 8 years they can kiss 2024 goodbye as well.
TheLongTermer
from what I heard, everybody already know who it is, but wont release
The problem the Dems will continue to have is that they have discredited any legit effort they may now have arrived at because removal has been their only objective since day 1 of the inauguration. They have vowed to have Trump impeached, and have been relentless in their efforts, using the MSM to rally the people but unfortunately for them, it has not worked, even with hollywood elites being recruited, but nobody cares what they have to say as they are responsible for the "managed decline" of US society.
This alone, even with any new evidence or "legit" crusade, discredits anything they find or do. This will all be another wasted effort, especially once it reaches the Senate. It many not even make it that far, because the witnesses are now claiming the phone call was not illegal, and it was allot about nothing.
Blacklabel
Say liberals. I’m obviously not a liberal.
you guys have had everything going your way the last 3 years. So much so that you won’t know what to do when it boomerangs.
Can’t wait to see you panic when it’s our turn. Flynn case will be the turning point. All that military love you had for that Vinderman guy.
But no love for Flynn or Tulsi Gabbard and total smear job on Admiral Ronny Jackson. That’s all gonna bite you.
Serrano
impeachment investigation
Adam Schiff: No one is above the law.
Well what the hell are you waiting for? Help the president to deport all the illegals instead of trying to impeach him.
Blacklabel
Heard 4 Hillary people testified to Durham grand jury today. Brennan and his homies on the list too. Barr having press conference tomorrow, hmmm.....
Serrano
Well it was a Red 2016 with all the Russian interference and collusion
Russia Russia Russia! Keep beatin' that dead horse, lincolnman!
Simon Foston
SerranoToday 10:49 am JST
Why, because Trump's going to have himself proclaimed emperor and his spawn as his heirs?
bass4funk
Hmmmm....judging by this impeachment farce the Democrats seem to think that they are self-proclaimed rulers and that they can undo an election by the people
Strangerland
Hmmmm....judging by this impeachment defence farce the Pubs seem to think that they are self-proclaimed rulers and that they can prevent a legal impeachment for the people.
lincolnman
And this makes the fourth day this poster has provided this same insightful comment...
Just like their Repub counterparts in the Congress as reflected in this article - they have nothing of substance to offer, just silly name-calling and chest-beating chants...
They know the SS Trump Titanic has capsized and is going under...so their irrationality only grows...
bass4funk
They can impeach all day and all year around but judging by the vote today, no Is Republican is falling for it and he won’t be removed. But I get it, the Dems need to feel alive.
ulysses
Hate to break it to you, this is the most corrupt President in the history of the US. Nixon comes across as a choir boy(much smarter though) Its a pity what's happened to the party of conservative values, its turned into a party of low values, or no values . After 2020 this is going to haunt the GOP for a very very long time.
Yubaru
Trump is a hypocrite, it really is that simple!
Simon Foston
bass4funkToday 11:20 am JST
That's strange, I always thought that the Democrats were carrying on the way they have been because they won "an election by the people" too. A bit more convincingly than God Emperor Donald, in fact.
SuperLib
Still haven't heard a single Trump fan on any message board say he's innocent. Everyone knows he's guilty.
Sneezy
I wish Republicans could keep their story straight. Has Trump been incapable of doing anything for three years because of mean ol' Libs, or has he kept a million billion promises? Pick one.
bass4funk
But they haven’t done anything for the people. This is the reason why many of these new and freshmen Democrats that won in Key swing states where Trump won are now in trouble...which is fine by me
No one can determine anyone’s innocence or guilt without a trial. I personally think he’s innocent, but I’m not being stupid like the suicidal Democrats and going off a leg proclaiming he’s guilty without the facts. At least that’s how I learned it in school. Innocent until proven guilty, right?
lincolnman
This statement from the article really sums up this issue;
Besides the admissions from Donnie, Rudy and Mick, Amb Taylor's detailed notes, Vidman's confirming from listening on the phone, and yesterday's testimony from Trump's own hand-picked nominee for Russian Amb all confirm the quid-pro-quo - it has been corroborated.
The Whistle Blower Protection Act protects the confidentiality of the Whistle Blower - attempts by Trump and Repubs in Congress to out that individual is a clear violation of the law.
Sneezy
You've said in these comments that you don't know who the original whistleblower is, and yet you know for a fact that they're close to a Democratic Presidential candidate and are themselves a partisan Democratic Party member. You don't understand what facts are or how to get them.
Simon Foston
bass4funkToday 12:50 pm JST
That's not the point. In 2018 they got a mandate from the people to do what they thought was in the people's best interests. Chances are that even if they came up with any really good ideas for legislation the Republicans in the Senate and the White House would torpedo it.
I'm sure it would be a shame for Republicans if all those millions they spent on Project Redmap went to waste.
bass4funk
Ok, so admission to making a call, but no quid pro quo and the Dems want to impeach on making dumb call with 12 people listening...knowingly and gets ratted on by a Democrat who has a political bias with second hand information with close ties to one of the Democrat candidates who has also ties with Rice and Brennen Yeah, the Dems are so screwed on this one. Lol
Sneezy
You made all of this up whole-cloth.
bass4funk
And they have passed any of the radical legislation they promised their constituents. Hey said they would work with the GOP to get them passed. But yeah, damn them, they got elected, so they need to wait.
If Dems want to be jerks to the GOP, then the GOP can easily return the favor, but for some reasons libs don’t like that one bit. I can treat you like crap, but don’t treat me like crap. Two can play the jerk game.
It would be far worse if Trump won and really tortured the Dems for another 4 years, but this time they’re powerless to do anything. Lol
SuperLib
Of course you don’t.
You’ve read the transcripts of the phone call Trump released where he asked a foreign government to investigate an American to benefit the President in an election. It’s not like you can say Trump didn’t ask to have Biden and CloudStrike investigated. He mentioned them by name.
The second issue is quid pro quo, and all statements by all witnesses have corroborated this. Your only option is to say a group of diplomats with impeccable credentials got together to agree on framing a known con man. It’s a dumb concept, but you’re the right type of man to give it a shot.
The GOP will protect Trump in the Senate, most likely succeeding, because keeping power is worth any damage to the country by Trump.
bass4funk
Yes, but there was no quid pro quo, doesn’t make him guilty. Biden with his new white teeth did and gleefully. Wow!
So what, doesn’t even pass anything remotely close to an impeachable offense.
As they should. The Dems protect their own as well.
Says the people that support the people trying to impeach this President since he came into office.
lincolnman
You're behind the curve - given all the evidence, even Repubs in the Senate are saying it was a QPQ...
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) told The Wall Street Journal in a Friday interview that U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland told him the U.S. was tying military aid to Ukraine and Trump's request for an investigation related to the 2016 presidential election. As Johnson put it, he says he was told that Ukraine would need to "get to the bottom of what happened in 2016" and "if President Trump has that confidence, then he'll release the military spending."
Yea, and the guy who's speaks Ukrainian who was on the call says clearly that there was a quid-pro-quo on the phone call and that the WH tried to cover it up..
The Whistle Blower is OBE - Trump confessed in the phone call summary "I would like you to do us a favor THOUGH". Mulvaney said; "Yes, we do it all the time". Rudy said "Of course" when asked if he talked to the Ukrainians about Biden. Taylor, Hill, Vindman, and others all said it was a QPQ.
Sure, and Bolton never called Rudy a "Hand Grenade" and that the whole Ukraine shakedown wasn't a "drug deal"....
Toasted Heretic
I'm not a liberal, though. Do you believe everyone who opposes your leader is a liberal? That's as ridiculous as me saying everyone who supports Trump is a nazi. And it still doesn't answer my question as to why you repeatedly bring up race.
I know people too. But who we know has absolutely no bearing on the menacing intimidation against the whistle blower. Why do you support his rights being removed?
Er, what about them? This is about the impeachment of your dear leader. If and when Democrats start operating at the staggering level of corruption and contempt of the electorate, I'll be calling for justice.
Which am I? Do you know the difference between socialism, Democrats, liberals and actual democracy? If you care about democracy, you might be concerned over his repeated interference with other nations' affairs like Brexit, the British elections. Not to mention trying to get Ukraine to interfere with the US elections.
No one can determine anyone’s innocence or guilt without a trial.
Is that why you've previously called for HRC to be locked up?
Ach, Trumpists. No consistency whatsoever.
Toasted Heretic
The overwhelming evidence says otherwise. And Mick Mulvaney told us this happens all the time.
I thought you were against criticism of people's appearances?
bass4funk
No one is saying that. If the GOP did then you may have seen some defections, but there weren’t any.
Can’t wait for the GOP to question him. Wonder where his loyalties rest with his birthplace Ukraine or the US.
Ok, so give Dems a pass, can’t them accountable, that’s not fair. I can punch you in the nose but you can’t hit me back.
I’m from California lol
I do vehemently that’s why I oppose this farce....again.
ulysses
The neutered republicans put up another show of how much they lack in courage and values.
Its going to bite them big time after 2020.
Donny meanwhile is moving to Florida, he might be planning an escape tp Russia through Cuba!
Blacklabel
you have heard me say it numerous times. Well unless you are doing that liberal word thing where you claim you didnt "hear" me because I am typing it.