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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Trump impeachment: Second whistleblower emerges | Trump impeachment: Second whistleblower emerges |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A second whistleblower has come forward in the impeachment case against US President Donald Trump, according to lawyers representing the first one. | A second whistleblower has come forward in the impeachment case against US President Donald Trump, according to lawyers representing the first one. |
| Mark Zaid told ABC News the second person was also an intelligence official and they had spoken to the inspector general. | Mark Zaid told ABC News the second person was also an intelligence official and they had spoken to the inspector general. |
| The White House has made no direct comment. President Trump has repeatedly rejected the original complaint. | |
| No details have been released about the second whistleblower's claims. | No details have been released about the second whistleblower's claims. |
| However, Mr Zaid said the person had first-hand knowledge of allegations associated with the phone call Mr Trump made with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on 25 July. | However, Mr Zaid said the person had first-hand knowledge of allegations associated with the phone call Mr Trump made with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on 25 July. |
| The impeachment inquiry stems from the call, which was flagged up by the initial whistleblower in August. | The impeachment inquiry stems from the call, which was flagged up by the initial whistleblower in August. |
| On Friday, the New York Times reported that a second person was considering coming forward who had "more direct information" about the events surrounding the call. | On Friday, the New York Times reported that a second person was considering coming forward who had "more direct information" about the events surrounding the call. |
| It is not yet known if this is the person represented by Mr Zaid. | It is not yet known if this is the person represented by Mr Zaid. |
| Mr Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani tweeted that he was not surprised there was another "secret source", calling the inquiry politically motivated and lashing out at the "swamp media". | Mr Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani tweeted that he was not surprised there was another "secret source", calling the inquiry politically motivated and lashing out at the "swamp media". |
| What difference could a second report make? | What difference could a second report make? |
| The Democrat-led investigating committee is eager to speak to someone who witnessed the call directly or has more information. | The Democrat-led investigating committee is eager to speak to someone who witnessed the call directly or has more information. |
| They are hopeful that this could be that person. | They are hopeful that this could be that person. |
| The White House insists it has been open and released a transcript of the call, after the concerns came to light. | The White House insists it has been open and released a transcript of the call, after the concerns came to light. |
| However, investigators point out that this was only a partial transcript. They have subpoenaed the State Department for more documents related to the call. | However, investigators point out that this was only a partial transcript. They have subpoenaed the State Department for more documents related to the call. |
| On Saturday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he would comply with the request, but complained that his staff were being harassed. | On Saturday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he would comply with the request, but complained that his staff were being harassed. |
| Four quick questions on Trump-Ukraine | Four quick questions on Trump-Ukraine |
| Why is Mr Trump being investigated? | Why is Mr Trump being investigated? |
| A whistleblower alleges he used "the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the US 2020 election", by asking Ukraine to investigate his leading rival, Joe Biden. | A whistleblower alleges he used "the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the US 2020 election", by asking Ukraine to investigate his leading rival, Joe Biden. |
| Is this illegal? | Is this illegal? |
| If this is what he's proven to have done, then yes: it's illegal to ask foreign entities for help winning a US election. Mr Trump says it's a witch-hunt and he did nothing wrong. | If this is what he's proven to have done, then yes: it's illegal to ask foreign entities for help winning a US election. Mr Trump says it's a witch-hunt and he did nothing wrong. |
| What could happen next? | What could happen next? |
| If the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives voted to impeach Mr Trump, there'd be a trial in the Senate. | If the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives voted to impeach Mr Trump, there'd be a trial in the Senate. |
| Could he be removed? | Could he be removed? |
| A Senate vote needs a two-thirds majority to convict, but Mr Trump's Republican party controls the Senate so that's unlikely. And the Mueller inquiry made clear you can't charge a sitting president with a crime. | A Senate vote needs a two-thirds majority to convict, but Mr Trump's Republican party controls the Senate so that's unlikely. And the Mueller inquiry made clear you can't charge a sitting president with a crime. |