President TrumpDonald John TrumpGordon Sondland expected to appear for House deposition Ivanka Trump on impeachment: ‘Everything’s a question of priorities’ Second intel official considering filing complaint over Trump: report MORE took aim at a second unnamed intelligence official who is reportedly considering filing a complaint against Trump and testifying before Congress about the president’s contacts with Ukraine’s president on Saturday.
Trump tweeted that the official, whose identity remains a secret, was a member of the “deep state” conspiracy he has argued is working to undermine his presidency.
“The first so-called second hand information ‘Whistleblower’ got my phone conversation almost completely wrong, so now word is they are going to the bench and another ‘Whistleblower’ is coming in from the Deep State, also with second hand info. Meet with Shifty [Rep. Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffSecond intel official considering filing complaint over Trump: report Trump mocks Schiff with Pinocchio-themed video Democrats claim new momentum from intelligence watchdog testimony MORE (D-Calif.). Keep them coming!” Trump tweeted.
The first so-called second hand information “Whistleblower” got my phone conversation almost completely wrong, so now word is they are going to the bench and another “Whistleblower” is coming in from the Deep State, also with second hand info. Meet with Shifty. Keep them coming!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2019
Trump’s referral to “shifty” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), chair of the House Intelligence Committee, appeared to be a reference to Republican efforts to discredit House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry as well as the first whistleblower to raise concerns about his conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Republicans have argued that the first whistleblower, who met with a member of Schiff’s congressional staff before filing a complaint, is a partisan operative who did not have first-hand knowledge of Trump’s conversations.
Democrats argue that a readout of Trump’s July phone call with Zelensky, during which he repeatedly asked Zelensky to open an investigation into former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenGordon Sondland expected to appear for House deposition Ivanka Trump on impeachment: ‘Everything’s a question of priorities’ Second intel official considering filing complaint over Trump: report MORE, proved the whistleblower’s concerns to be true.
