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| Legal Team Says It Represents a Second Whistle-Blower Over Trump and Ukraine | Legal Team Says It Represents a Second Whistle-Blower Over Trump and Ukraine |
| (1 day later) | |
| WASHINGTON — An intelligence official with “firsthand knowledge” has provided information related to President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine and is now protected from retaliation as a whistle-blower, lawyers representing the official said on Sunday, confirming that a second individual has come forward in the matter. | WASHINGTON — An intelligence official with “firsthand knowledge” has provided information related to President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine and is now protected from retaliation as a whistle-blower, lawyers representing the official said on Sunday, confirming that a second individual has come forward in the matter. |
| [Here’s what happened in today in the Trump impeachment inquiry.] | |
| Much is unknown about the official, who has been interviewed by the intelligence community’s inspector general but has not filed a formal complaint. | Much is unknown about the official, who has been interviewed by the intelligence community’s inspector general but has not filed a formal complaint. |
| But the individual has hired the same legal team as the first whistle-blower. That, and the claim of “firsthand knowledge,” suggests testimony that might bolster the impeachment case against Mr. Trump and further undermine one of his main defense claims: that the accusations against him are based on inaccurate, secondhand information. | But the individual has hired the same legal team as the first whistle-blower. That, and the claim of “firsthand knowledge,” suggests testimony that might bolster the impeachment case against Mr. Trump and further undermine one of his main defense claims: that the accusations against him are based on inaccurate, secondhand information. |
| The New York Times reported on Friday that an intelligence official who has more direct knowledge of Mr. Trump’s dealings with Ukraine than the first whistle-blower, and who had grown alarmed by the president’s behavior, was weighing whether to come forward. The second official was among those interviewed by the intelligence community inspector general to corroborate the allegations of the original whistle-blower, one of the people briefed on the matter said. | The New York Times reported on Friday that an intelligence official who has more direct knowledge of Mr. Trump’s dealings with Ukraine than the first whistle-blower, and who had grown alarmed by the president’s behavior, was weighing whether to come forward. The second official was among those interviewed by the intelligence community inspector general to corroborate the allegations of the original whistle-blower, one of the people briefed on the matter said. |
| For Democratic lawmakers seeking to build their case for impeachment, the new whistle-blower could serve as an important witness for both validating what they know and potentially providing new leads for investigators. Representative Adam B. Schiff, the California Democrat who is leading the House’s impeachment inquiry, urged other potential whistle-blowers to come forward on Sunday night. | For Democratic lawmakers seeking to build their case for impeachment, the new whistle-blower could serve as an important witness for both validating what they know and potentially providing new leads for investigators. Representative Adam B. Schiff, the California Democrat who is leading the House’s impeachment inquiry, urged other potential whistle-blowers to come forward on Sunday night. |
| “We thank them for their courage,” he said. “We thank them for their patriotism. And we hope others will follow their courageous example.” | “We thank them for their courage,” he said. “We thank them for their patriotism. And we hope others will follow their courageous example.” |
| One member of the legal team confirmed on Twitter that the firm was now representing “multiple whistleblowers” but declined to say how many. The inspector general has said that to corroborate the first whistle-blower’s complaint, he interviewed multiple people who would be afforded protections, and it was unclear if the lawyer could be referring to those people or other people. | One member of the legal team confirmed on Twitter that the firm was now representing “multiple whistleblowers” but declined to say how many. The inspector general has said that to corroborate the first whistle-blower’s complaint, he interviewed multiple people who would be afforded protections, and it was unclear if the lawyer could be referring to those people or other people. |
| Since the first whistle-blower emerged, the White House has tried to unmask his identity, and dismiss him as a “deep state operative” with partisan motives to “take down” Mr. Trump. The president stuck to form on Sunday evening in trying to dismiss the new whistle-blower. | Since the first whistle-blower emerged, the White House has tried to unmask his identity, and dismiss him as a “deep state operative” with partisan motives to “take down” Mr. Trump. The president stuck to form on Sunday evening in trying to dismiss the new whistle-blower. |
| “Democrat lawyer is same for both Whistleblowers?” he said on Twitter. “All support Obama and Crooked Hillary. Witch Hunt!” | “Democrat lawyer is same for both Whistleblowers?” he said on Twitter. “All support Obama and Crooked Hillary. Witch Hunt!” |
| The lawyers representing both whistle-blowers said the emergence of a second account should take the focus off the identities of the individuals coming forward. | The lawyers representing both whistle-blowers said the emergence of a second account should take the focus off the identities of the individuals coming forward. |
| “Our hope is that the focus will appropriately shift to the substance and merits of the allegations rather than the individual whistle-blowers, each of whom has a legal right to remain anonymous,” said Mark S. Zaid, one of the whistle-blower’s lawyers. | “Our hope is that the focus will appropriately shift to the substance and merits of the allegations rather than the individual whistle-blowers, each of whom has a legal right to remain anonymous,” said Mark S. Zaid, one of the whistle-blower’s lawyers. |
| Mr. Zaid said the official’s act of coming forward to the inspector general had secured whistle-blower protections, and it was not clear if the whistle-blower would file a formal complaint. | Mr. Zaid said the official’s act of coming forward to the inspector general had secured whistle-blower protections, and it was not clear if the whistle-blower would file a formal complaint. |
| The official has also not communicated yet with any congressional committees, Mr. Zaid said. But Democrats said the speed with which the case was becoming public was itself a strong sign of wrongdoing. | The official has also not communicated yet with any congressional committees, Mr. Zaid said. But Democrats said the speed with which the case was becoming public was itself a strong sign of wrongdoing. |
| “What’s happening is that people around the president, professionals, who are in the Oval Office, who are in the Situation Room, are watching what is happening and are finally saying, ‘My God, this cannot happen anymore,’ and they are coming forward,” Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, the second-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” | “What’s happening is that people around the president, professionals, who are in the Oval Office, who are in the Situation Room, are watching what is happening and are finally saying, ‘My God, this cannot happen anymore,’ and they are coming forward,” Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, the second-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” |
| Even before the second whistle-blower’s emergence, lawmakers leading the impeachment inquiry were preparing for another jam-packed week of fact-finding that could significantly shape their case. They are scheduled to talk to at least two senior American diplomats: Marie L. Yovanovitch, the former American ambassador to Ukraine who was abruptly removed from her post this year after running afoul of the White House, and Gordon D. Sondland, Mr. Trump’s ambassador to the European Union who closely managed the relationship between the White House and the new Ukrainian government. | Even before the second whistle-blower’s emergence, lawmakers leading the impeachment inquiry were preparing for another jam-packed week of fact-finding that could significantly shape their case. They are scheduled to talk to at least two senior American diplomats: Marie L. Yovanovitch, the former American ambassador to Ukraine who was abruptly removed from her post this year after running afoul of the White House, and Gordon D. Sondland, Mr. Trump’s ambassador to the European Union who closely managed the relationship between the White House and the new Ukrainian government. |
| Two associates of Mr. Trump’s private lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, said to have played roles in his shadow campaign to push for investigations in Ukraine that could benefit the president have also been called to testify. Additional requests for documents and witnesses are also expected. | Two associates of Mr. Trump’s private lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, said to have played roles in his shadow campaign to push for investigations in Ukraine that could benefit the president have also been called to testify. Additional requests for documents and witnesses are also expected. |
| The first whistle-blower, a C.I.A. officer who was detailed to the National Security Council, filed a complaint in August outlining how Mr. Trump used his power to push Ukraine to investigate Joseph R. Biden Jr., the former vice president and current presidential candidate, as well as his son Hunter Biden, including in a July 25 phone call with the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky. | The first whistle-blower, a C.I.A. officer who was detailed to the National Security Council, filed a complaint in August outlining how Mr. Trump used his power to push Ukraine to investigate Joseph R. Biden Jr., the former vice president and current presidential candidate, as well as his son Hunter Biden, including in a July 25 phone call with the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky. |
| The disclosure of a new whistle-blower, first reported by the ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos on his show “This Week,” appeared likely to help House Democrats’ reconstruction of events, even as the White House has so far refused to comply with requests for documents related to Mr. Trump’s efforts to press Ukraine to investigate a leading political rival, and any attempt to conceal his actions. | The disclosure of a new whistle-blower, first reported by the ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos on his show “This Week,” appeared likely to help House Democrats’ reconstruction of events, even as the White House has so far refused to comply with requests for documents related to Mr. Trump’s efforts to press Ukraine to investigate a leading political rival, and any attempt to conceal his actions. |
| But on Sunday, the White House shrugged off the news, arguing that it did not change the fact that Mr. Trump did nothing wrong. | But on Sunday, the White House shrugged off the news, arguing that it did not change the fact that Mr. Trump did nothing wrong. |
| “It doesn’t matter how many people decide to call themselves whistle-blowers about the same telephone call — a call the president already made public — it doesn’t change the fact that he has done nothing wrong,” said Stephanie Grisham, the White House press secretary. | “It doesn’t matter how many people decide to call themselves whistle-blowers about the same telephone call — a call the president already made public — it doesn’t change the fact that he has done nothing wrong,” said Stephanie Grisham, the White House press secretary. |
| Mr. Giuliani framed the news of the new whistle-blower on Sunday as a political hit on the president. “SURPRISE Democrat lawyer has other secret sources,” Mr. Giuliani wrote on Twitter. He added that the bottom line was that there was “no quid pro quo” attached to Mr. Trump’s pressure on Ukrainian officials to investigate his political rivals, and called the story an “ORCHESTRATED DEM CAMPAIGN LIKE KAVANAUGH,” referring to the sexual misconduct allegations against Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearing. | Mr. Giuliani framed the news of the new whistle-blower on Sunday as a political hit on the president. “SURPRISE Democrat lawyer has other secret sources,” Mr. Giuliani wrote on Twitter. He added that the bottom line was that there was “no quid pro quo” attached to Mr. Trump’s pressure on Ukrainian officials to investigate his political rivals, and called the story an “ORCHESTRATED DEM CAMPAIGN LIKE KAVANAUGH,” referring to the sexual misconduct allegations against Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearing. |
| But with information evolving unusually quickly, few senior congressional Republicans or White House officials have been willing to step out publicly to defend Mr. Trump’s actions. The White House, which has been riven internally about how to handle impeachment proceedings, with no one clearly in charge, did not have any senior officials making the case on the Sunday news shows to defend Mr. Trump. | But with information evolving unusually quickly, few senior congressional Republicans or White House officials have been willing to step out publicly to defend Mr. Trump’s actions. The White House, which has been riven internally about how to handle impeachment proceedings, with no one clearly in charge, did not have any senior officials making the case on the Sunday news shows to defend Mr. Trump. |
| Of those congressional allies who did make public comments on Sunday, several either focused on attacking Democrats’ handling of the case or said they would reserve judgment until they saw more facts. | Of those congressional allies who did make public comments on Sunday, several either focused on attacking Democrats’ handling of the case or said they would reserve judgment until they saw more facts. |
| Senator Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri and a key member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he was interested to learn more about the new whistle-blower and offered no defense of Mr. Trump’s actions toward Ukraine. Instead, he said he first wanted to see the results of the Senate’s bipartisan investigation of the matter before making a judgment. | Senator Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri and a key member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he was interested to learn more about the new whistle-blower and offered no defense of Mr. Trump’s actions toward Ukraine. Instead, he said he first wanted to see the results of the Senate’s bipartisan investigation of the matter before making a judgment. |
| “You have to assume if it is essentially a partisan vote in the House, that that sets the stage for likely the same kind of vote in the Senate,” Mr. Blunt said on CBS. “But let’s see what the facts are.” | “You have to assume if it is essentially a partisan vote in the House, that that sets the stage for likely the same kind of vote in the Senate,” Mr. Blunt said on CBS. “But let’s see what the facts are.” |
| Others were more squarely behind the president. | Others were more squarely behind the president. |
| Representative Chris Stewart, Republican of Utah and a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said on “Fox News Sunday” that he was “not at all” concerned by the emergence of another whistle-blower because he had already seen a rough transcript of Mr. Trump’s July call with Ukraine’s president that, in his view, was not problematic. | Representative Chris Stewart, Republican of Utah and a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said on “Fox News Sunday” that he was “not at all” concerned by the emergence of another whistle-blower because he had already seen a rough transcript of Mr. Trump’s July call with Ukraine’s president that, in his view, was not problematic. |
| On ABC’s “This Week,” Representative Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican who is one of Mr. Trump’s most steadfast defenders, said the president was merely interested in rooting out legitimate accusations of corruption and that Democrats were unfairly vilifying him for it. | On ABC’s “This Week,” Representative Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican who is one of Mr. Trump’s most steadfast defenders, said the president was merely interested in rooting out legitimate accusations of corruption and that Democrats were unfairly vilifying him for it. |
| But pressed a half-dozen times to say whether he approved of Mr. Trump’s public remarks this week calling on China to investigate the Bidens, Mr. Jordan would not answer. | But pressed a half-dozen times to say whether he approved of Mr. Trump’s public remarks this week calling on China to investigate the Bidens, Mr. Jordan would not answer. |
| “I think he has you guys all spun up,” he said, repeating a line frequently used by Republicans in recent days. “I don’t think he really meant go investigate. Do you think China is really going to investigate?” | “I think he has you guys all spun up,” he said, repeating a line frequently used by Republicans in recent days. “I don’t think he really meant go investigate. Do you think China is really going to investigate?” |
| Senator Ron Johnson, Republican of Wisconsin, said in a heated exchange on “Meet the Press” that Mr. Trump had “vehemently, angrily denied” to him withholding aid for Ukraine in exchange for investigating his political rivals. | Senator Ron Johnson, Republican of Wisconsin, said in a heated exchange on “Meet the Press” that Mr. Trump had “vehemently, angrily denied” to him withholding aid for Ukraine in exchange for investigating his political rivals. |
| “Unlike the narrative of the press that President Trump wants to dig up dirt on his 2020 opponent, what he wants is an accounting of what happened in 2016,” Mr. Johnson said. | “Unlike the narrative of the press that President Trump wants to dig up dirt on his 2020 opponent, what he wants is an accounting of what happened in 2016,” Mr. Johnson said. |