New Delhi: The legal team representing the whistleblower in US President Donald Trump’s impeachment case revealed, to ABC News, that they are now also representing a second whistleblower.
What do we know so far?
“Mark Zaid, the attorney representing the whistleblower who sounded the alarm on President Donald Trump’s dealings with Ukraine and triggered an impeachment inquiry, tells ABC Newsthat he is now representing a second whistleblower who has spoken with the inspector general (of the intelligence community),” notes a report in ABC News.
Zaid further confirmed that the second whistleblower is also an intelligence official.
According to the report,“(The second whistleblower) has first-hand knowledge of some of the allegations outlined in the original complaint and has been interviewed by the head of the intelligence community’s internal watchdog office, Michael Atkinson.”
On Friday, The New York Times had reported that another whistleblower, who had “more direct information” on the Trump-Ukrainian President phone call, was ready to testify.
However, it is unclear whether the Times was referring to the same aforementioned person.
How did Trump and others react?
Trump did not take well to the revelation of a new whistleblower.
“The first so-called second hand information ‘Whistleblower’ got my phone conversation almost completely wrong, so now word is they are going to the bench and another ‘Whistleblower’ is coming in from the Deep State, also with second hand info. Meet with Shifty. Keep them coming!” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham extended his support for Trump.
“When it comes to “more whistleblowers coming forward”…………..I’ve seen this movie before — with Brett #Kavanaugh. More and more doesn’t mean better or reliable,” said Graham.
While the majority of the Republican Party continues to support Trump, some cracks have begun to emerge in the party. Most prominent critics include Mitt Romney and Ben Sasse.
Susan Collins, Senator from Maine, is the latest Republican to criticise Trump for asking China to investigate Democrat leader Joe Biden.
What does it mean for the impeachment inquiry?
“The Democrat-led investigating committee is eager to speak to someone who witnessed the call directly or has more information,” noted a report in the BBC. The second whistleblower could be the person they need.
Meanwhile, Andrew Bakaj, another lawyer from the first whistleblower’s legal team talked about “multiple” such whistleblowers.
“I can confirm that my firm and my team represent multiple whistleblowers in connection to the underlying August 12, 2019, disclosure to the Intelligence Community Inspector General. No further comment at this time,” tweeted Bakaj.