In the Headlines
November 13, 2019

What Happens if Republicans Name the Whistle-blower?

National Journal

Democrats are looking to discourage the House Intelligence Committee members from disclosing the whistle-blower's alleged identity, as the impeachment-inquiry hearing is a chance for members on both sides of the scandal in Ukraine to reveal the whistle-blower's name. However, Panel Chairman, Adam Schiff, does not have any effective options to allude to punishment if Republicans attempt to expose the whistle-blower and those options could conflict the House Ethics Committee and the independent Office of Congressional Ethics that would likely end without any punishment given out. 

"It would be interesting to see how this would be handled, because the Ethics Committee strives to act in a bipartisan manner and an issue like this is by definition fraught with partisan baggage. I'm just not sure what the committee would do," said Attorney Christopher DeLacy. "It may be one of those things where they can take a look at this and say, 'We don’t want to harm the working relationship on the committee; we’ve got other issues we want to work on; we’re going to pass on this,'" he added. 

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