On Tuesday, all three network morning shows breathlessly seized on House Democrats reportedly “considering extreme measures” to conceal the identity of the whistleblower who sparked the impeachment inquiry. Reporters on ABC, NBC, and CBS touted schemes by liberal lawmakers to disguise the appearance or voice of the anonymous government official in order for him or her to testify before Congress.
“Congress grapples with how to secure testimony from the original whistleblower without putting that whistleblower in danger,” co-host George Stephanopoulos melodramatically worried on ABC’s Good Morning America. Capitol Hill correspondent Mary Bruce followed: “Well, as the President and some of his top allies here on the Hill are demanding to know this person’s identity, Democrats here on the Hill are now considering going to extreme measures to protect the whistleblower.”
The reporter detailed how “Democrats are weighing every option to protect the whistleblower,” with members of House Intelligence Committee, “Even considering obscuring the person’s voice and appearance or questioning the whistleblower at a remote location.” A soundbite ran of Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi justifying the plans: “[President Trump] wants to know the identity of the whistleblower, and so this extremely unusual situation unfortunately demands extreme measures in terms of protecting the security of the whistleblower.”
After the taped report, Stephanopoulos engaged in more hand-wringing: “And Mary, the situation is so extraordinary right now on Capitol Hill the whistleblower needs these special protections because – in part because of the threats from the President and his allies.” Bruce proclaimed: “Yeah, George, this is just remarkable. Democrats here on the Hill have a very real concern that their Republicans colleagues could try to out the whistleblower and his or her identity...”
“Democrats are also considering taking extreme measures to conceal the first whistleblower’s identity,” White House correspondent Kristen Welker announced on NBC’s Today show. She explained: “Officials familiar with discussions about a potential testimony tell The Washington Post possible steps include a remote location for testimony, and perhaps masking the person’s face or voice.”
Like ABC, a clip was featured of Congressman Krishnamoorthi arguing: “Where the President is trying to actively trying to identify the first whistleblower and he’s trying to do so for one purpose, which is to somehow potentially retaliate against him or discourage him or her from coming forward and telling their story.”
Not wanting to be left out, CBS This Morning followed the same narrative, with correspondent Nancy Cordes telling viewers: “CBS News has learned investigators are considering extremely rare measures, like obscuring the whistleblower’s appearance and voice to protect his or her identity.” Representative Krishnamoorthi was apparently the designated spokesman for House Democrats because he was featured once again: “We want to make sure that this person is protected to the very maximum extent possible.”
Clearly the effort by Democrats is to portray the whistleblower as a courageous witness facing down the dangerous Trump administration. The liberal media are only too happy to help advance that storyline, without even questioning how an effort to possibly remove the President of United States from office hinges on the word of an anonymous bureaucrat.
Help fight against the liberal media's impeachment crusade
Here is a transcript of the October 8 coverage on ABC’s GMA:
7:09 AM ET
(...)
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Congress grapples with how to secure testimony from the original whistleblower without putting that whistleblower in danger. Our senior congressional correspondent Mary Bruce tracking all the latest. Good morning, Mary.
MARY BRUCE: Good morning, George. Well, as the President and some of his top allies here on the Hill are demanding to know this person’s identity, Democrats here on the Hill are now considering going to extreme measures to protect the whistleblower.
This morning, Democrats are weighing every option to protect the whistleblower who sparked this impeachment inquiry. Even considering obscuring the person’s voice and appearance or questioning the whistleblower at a remote location.
REP. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI [D-IL]: He wants to know the identity of the whistleblower, and so this extremely unusual situation unfortunately demands extreme measures in terms of protecting the security of the whistleblower.
(...)
7:11 AM ET
STEPHANOPOULOS: And Mary, the situation is so extraordinary right now on Capitol Hill the whistleblower needs these special protections because – in part because of the threats from the President and his allies.
BRUCE: Yeah, George, this is just remarkable. Democrats here on the Hill have a very real concern that their Republicans colleagues could try to out the whistleblower and his or her identity, including now considering these extreme measures like masking the person’s appearance, even possibly have staffers instead of lawmakers doing the questioning. The President, of course says he has a right to know his accuser, the lawmaker though – excuse me, whistleblower – is, of course, protected by law from any retaliation, George.
(...)
Here is a transcript of coverage on NBC’s Today show:
7:10 AM ET
(...)
KRISTEN WELKER: Democrats are also considering taking extreme measures to conceal the first whistleblower’s identity. Officials familiar with discussions about a potential testimony tell The Washington Post possible steps include a remote location for testimony, and perhaps masking the person’s face or voice.
REP. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI [D-IL]: Where the President is trying to actively trying to identify the first whistleblower and he’s trying to do so for one purpose, which is to somehow potentially retaliate against him or discourage him or her from coming forward and telling their story.
WELKER: That move comes after jabs like this:
DONALD TRUMP: And that whistleblower, there’s no question in my mind that some bad things have gone on and I think we’ll get to the bottom of it.
(...)
Here is a transcript of the coverage on CBS This Morning:
7:08 AM ET
(...)
NANCY CORDES: With talk of a potential second whistleblower coming forward, congressional Democrats are still hoping to talk to the first whistleblower, whose complaint sparked this inquiry. CBS News has learned investigators are considering extremely rare measures, like obscuring the whistleblower’s appearance and voice to protect his or her identity.
REP. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI [D-IL]: We want to make sure that this person is protected to the very maximum extent possible.
(...)
