Trump says Whistleblower is a "disgrace". How can that be the case?

1. 86

   Don Wposted 5 years ago

   Some facts:
   
   1. It is the legal duty of everyone in government to report anything they believe to be fraud, misconduct, or misdemeanor and it has been since the first whistleblower law was enacted in 1778:
   
   "Resolved, That it is the duty of all persons in the service of the United States, as well as all other the inhabitants thereof, to give the earliest information to Congress or other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds or misdemeanors committed by any officers or persons in the service of these states, which may come to their knowledge."
   https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id= … mp;seq=328 (p.732)
   
   2. The training pack used by the Director of National Security (DNI) describes whistleblowing as an "act of patriotism", and encourages respect for the courage and professionalism it takes to report wrongdoing:
   
   "Blowing the whistle internally is an act of patriotism. That's right - whistleblowing is a professional responsibility that every employee is obliged to uphold. Truth, lawfulness, integrity, and stewardship are bedrock values that have defined the Federal Government's ethical code for decades. Every employee is responsible to report wrongdoing through appropriate channels. Further, every supervisor and management official is responsible to encourage and support an employee's professional duty to blow the whistle when the situation calls for it. It's equally important to demonstrate respect for the courage and professionalism it takes to report wrongdoing."
   https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ico … blower.PDF (p.9)
   
   3. If an allegation relates to classified information employees in the Intelligence Community (IC) must make a "protected disclosure". A protected disclosure is a report to the Inspector General of any information the whistleblower: "reasonably believes evidences a violation of law, rule, or regulation; or gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety"
   https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ico … blower.PDF (p.3)
   
   4. The current impeachment is based on a whistleblower report that relates to classified information.
   
   Some questions:
   
   Was it the whistleblower's duty to report something they believe to be fraudulent, misconduct etc? Yes.
   
   Did they fulfil their duty? Yes.
   
   Did the allegation involve classified information? Yes.
   
   Did the whistleblower protect classified information by making a "protected disclosure" to the Inspector General as required by the DNI's own process? Yes.
   
   Did the whistleblower reasonably believe the information they submitted to the IG showed a "violation of law, rule, or regulation; or gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety"? By their own account, yes.
   
   Has the whistleblower complied with all the main requirements of the law and the government's own processes in relation to making an allegation of wrongdoing that relates to classified information? Yes.
   
   Some questions for Trump supporters (or anyone who wants to respond):
   
   Trump said, the whistleblower is a "disgrace to our country".
   
   1. Given the above, please explain, exactly how is that the case?
   
   2. If someone in government reasonably believes there has been fraud, misconduct, abuse of authority etc, what should they do with that information if not follow the law and the government's own processes?
   
   3. Do you think hounding people who follow the appropriate steps to report alleged wrongdoing will reduce or increase the number of people who make unauthorized leaks to the press?

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Randy Godwinposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      You left very little wriggle room for Trumpsters to slither away, Don. Some may surprise us though and actually respond to the queries.

      replyreport
      1. 86

         Don Wposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         I hope a Trump supporter (or anyone who agrees with Trump's comment) weighs in. I'd really like to know what their justification is for Trump vilifying the whistleblower when it appears they have complied fully with the law and the government's own processes. Do we really want to create a situation leaking classified information to the press is a batter option than complying with the law and the correct procedures?

         replyreport
2. 78

   wildernessposted 5 years ago

   I don't find it a disgrace...if you believe it true, if it was not done out of malice or for political purposes, and if it was not spun or exaggerated beyond what was truly there.
   
   Of course, what is done with that information is much the same; if it is a measured, reasonable response, if it is not done for political purposes, if it is not spun into something that it never was, it is not a disgrace.  If not it may well be, just as the initial report may be.
   
   Personally, I find that there is a great deal more of that "for political purposes" in the response than there ever was in the purported action, and that the report itself may (may!) have been initiated from intended malice.  Can there be anyone in the nation not convinced the Democrat response is politically based and has, as it's goal, the destruction of a political rival?  One has only to look at the lockstep voting and at the years' worth of cries for impeachment, for any and all reasons, to understand that!

   replyreport
   1. 86

      Don Wposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Trump specifically called the whistleblower a "disgrace to our country", even though they reported something they believed to be wrong through all the correct channels.
      
      Is Trump, as the head of government, suggesting that lawfully reporting an allegation of wrongdoing against his administration, is a disgrace to the country? How is that justified in light of the current legal framework, and government processes that exist not only to protect whistleblowers but also encourage whistleblowers to come forward?

      replyreport