Tensions were on the rise Wednesday evening as Chief Justice John Roberts blocked a question from Senator Rand Paul that would have identified the alleged whistleblower at the center of the impeachment trial.
Roberts’ actions prompted shouting from the Kentucky Senator as he vowed to “fight for recognition.”
Sean Davis, a co-founder of the Federalist, reported that Roberts, at the behest of Democrats, “previously vowed to ban any questions about the whistleblower whatsoever, named or not.”
“Roberts’ arbitrary and unilateral censorship of senators and Senate business raises serious questions about whether he would similarly ban any and all motions to subpoena by name the whistleblower … to compel his testimony,” Davis said.
GOP senators previously suggested having the whistleblower testify should witnesses be approved for the trial.
After Republicans threatened a vote to rebuke Roberts on the record, the Chief Justice retreated and said the actual name of the whistleblower would be the only thing earning a block.
Even that should be challenged.
During the last break in the impeachment trial, “I don’t want to have to stand up to try and fight for recognition,” @RandPaul said loud enough to be audible from the galleries above the chamber.
“If I have to fight for recognition, I will,” he said.https://t.co/E8EOwenvbF
— Niels Lesniewski (@nielslesniewski) January 29, 2020
RELATED: Watch: Rand Paul Obliterates Reporter Who Claims It’s Illegal To Out Whistleblower
Paul Fuming
Roberts move at the encouraging of Democrats, reportedly, left Paul fuming and vowing to engage in a fight to be heard.
“I don’t want to have to stand up to try and fight for recognition,” Paul was heard shouting during a break in the trial. “If I have to fight for recognition, I will.”
Reporter Niels Lesniewski said Paul’s complaint was “audible from the galleries above the chamber.”
Paul, who has been insistent on testimony from the whistleblower for the record, said “tbd [to be decided]” when asked if he would force the issue.
Shameful and arbitrary abuse of power by Roberts, who has already done incalculable damage to the Supreme Court’s legitimacy as a non-political institution via his tortured defense of Obamcare’s constitutionality. Is he Chief Justice, or Chief Censor? https://t.co/KH83VjnkLZ
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) January 30, 2020
RELATED: Photo Emerges of Alleged Whistleblower Shaking Hands With Obama
Outing the Whistleblower
As Senator Paul has explained time and again, whistleblowers are protected by federal law from retaliation in the workplace but are not guaranteed anonymity.
“The whistleblower statute protects the whistleblower from having his name revealed by the inspector general,” Paul previously noted when threatening to out him. “Even The New York Times admits that no one else is under any legal obligation.”
He has noted that the whistleblower is a material witness in the case “because he worked for Joe Biden at the same time Hunter Biden was receiving $50,000 per month.”
The Political Insider has identified the alleged whistleblower as CIA officer Eric Ciaramella, a registered Democrat who worked with former Vice President Joe Biden and former CIA Director John Brennan.
A picture of the alleged Ukraine whistleblower shaking hands with @BarackObama has been unearthed.
“This picture raises serious questions about how this sham impeachment process started,” a senior Trump administration official said. https://t.co/5PwJbzzL62
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 20, 2019
His identity is crucial because House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and his office have allegedly coordinated the effort with him to take down President Trump.
Stunning that Adam Schiff lies to millions of Americans when he says he doesn’t know the identity of the whistleblower.
He absolutely knows the identity of the whistleblower b/c he coordinated with the individual before the whistleblower’s complaint! His staff helped write it!
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) January 29, 2020
Ciaramella’s work history and coordination with Schiff’s office would indicate a political bias – not a concern over truth and justice – in trying to impeach the President, something that is thoroughly relevant to the trial.
Attorney to the whistleblower, Mark Zaid, was revealed to have discussed a coup and other devious secret plans to oust the President.
“Democrats must be accountable for their hoaxes and their crimes,” Trump said regarding the ‘coup.’
Roberts, by protecting Schiff and the whistleblower, is assuring they will not be held accountable. Paul must continue to fight this and his Republican colleagues must stand with him.
