Donald Trump’s rally in Kentucky had its bizarre moments, but one that stood out more than the rest was when the state’s junior senator, Rand Paul, took to the podium to call on the press to publish the whistleblower’s name. That anonymous individual set off the impeachment inquiry by Democrats over Trump’s quid pro quo phone call with Ukraine’s leader. He or she is legally entitled to anonymity.
Perhaps the Kentucky Republican hasn’t heard of the Whistleblower Protection Act that strengthens the protections available to Federal employees who are trying to expose waste, fraud, and corruption. That Act was put in motion so that a whistleblower can come forward without any repercussions.
Talking chia pet Rand Paul is doubling down after his call for the media to break the law and out the whistleblower, and that action could put his or her life in danger. Actually, Paul tripled down because earlier today he dismissed the idea that it would be “dangerous” to out the individual.
And he’s at it again. According to Marriane LeVine of Politico, Paul told reporters he might out the whistleblower. “I’m more than willing to and I probably will at some point…There is no law preventing anybody from saying the name.”
Rand Paul tells reporters he might out the whistleblower. “I’m more than willing to and I probably will at some point…There is no law preventing anybody from saying the name.”
— Marianne LeVine (@marianne_levine) November 5, 2019
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
Because of Paul’s threats, and Trump repeatedly calling for the individual’s identity, Virginia Democrat Mark Warner, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, tweeted out a reminder of the protection laws.
It would be wildly irresponsible for anyone to leak the identity of an intelligence professional. Whistleblower protection laws exist for a very good reason, and we undermine them at our own peril.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) November 5, 2019
To make this even more bizarre, and to show that Paul knows what he’s doing is wrong, the Kentucky Republican sat on the Homeland Security Committee that authorized the Whistleblower Protection Act in late 2017. That was only two years ago. Certainly, his memory isn’t that bad.
Maybe his father, Ron Paul, can refresh his memory. In 2017, Ron Paul said, “It’s deeply troubling that so many in the news media and in both political parties attack the efforts of whistle-blowers and those who publish their revelations. These individuals risk it all, not for their own wealth and glory, but to inform us of what is being done to us and in our name.”
Featured image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr under Creative Commons license 2.0
Like what you see here? Join the discussion on Facebook over at Americans For Sanity!
