Whistleblower form changed to allow gossip ‘heard about…from others’

THE WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT FORM NOW ALLOWS GOSSIP/HEARSAY

This is big news and it was uncovered by a researcher on Twitter. The intelligence complaint form used by whistleblowers appears to have been changed in August to allow complainants to report information if they “heard about it from others” [gossip].

That sounds tailor-made for the Ukraine whistleblower who has serious concerns about the President’s phone call with Ukraine President Zelensky on July 25th. He has no direct knowledge of anything.

This change, if it includes policy changes, is a serious violation of our civil liberties. Gossip or hearsay must never replace evidence. Due process, the presumption of innocence, and the rule of law are being subverted to the will of some very corrupt people. Real whistleblowers are diminished by this.

However, we don’t know if this includes a change in policy to back it up. A reporting form is nothing without that. However, the fact that the intelligence Inspector General and the Acting DNI view the hearsay as “credible” and “serious” does suggest a policy shift.

There is another concern. Why was this done in the immediate aftermath of the President’s July 25th phone call with Ukraine President Zelensky?

Mr. McIntyre found the changes and it was confirmed by Jay Sekulow on ‘Hannity’ last evening.

15/ bottom line: it appears almost certain that, subsequent to the CIA operative “WB” complaint, the DNI introduced a brand new Urgent Disclosure Form which offered a previously unavailable alternative to report allegations with no personal knowledge https://t.co/l8foAAj2sC pic.twitter.com/WXcNdJn84u

— Stephen McIntyre (@ClimateAudit) September 27, 2019

THE TIMING IS CONCERNING

In May, the form required first-hand information. That means this form was changed in the midst of this Ukraine-Trump situation. Who made this change?

Rumor and newspaper reports like that which the whistleblower is selling were not allowed prior to August of this year.

14/ Here is what prior ICIG whistleblower form looked like. Required reporting of an incident – not a long op ed quoting newspaper articles. No softball question about whether sources primary or secondary. pic.twitter.com/r5lqxK0Sga

— Stephen McIntyre (@ClimateAudit) September 27, 2019

Encouraging snitching based on gossip is worthy of a Banana Republic. The form the whistleblower filled out needs to be released, along with current policy.

Here is link to DNI link with complete IC Urgent Concern Disclosure Form. This form as completed by CIA operative WB, redacted as appropriate, ought to be obtained and published ASAP. https://t.co/l8foAAj2sC https://t.co/9UgdVukckz

— Stephen McIntyre (@ClimateAudit) September 27, 2019

SET-UP?

Another concern is the timing of Adam Schiff’s comments about the hearsay.

Two weeks before the Inspector General told Congress about the whistleblower’s complaint, Adam Schiff was echoing the whistleblower’s complaint. That has the look of a setup.

Isn’t it mildly concerning that Adam Schiff was running around parroting the EXACT claim made by the whistleblower two weeks before Congress was allegedly notified by the inspector general of the intelligence community of the existence of such a complaint? https://t.co/qTPnkb1PlQ

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 27, 2019

If Adam Schiff knew about it a month ago, why didn’t he report it?

A RESIGNATION

The resignation of a special envoy could go in a number of directions.

The special envoy to Ukraine, who was caught up in the Ukraine controversy, has resigned in the aftermath of the publication of the whistleblower complaint by an anonymous CIA agent.

Kurt Volker, the U.S. special envoy to Ukraine, has resigned one day after the release of a whistleblower report alleging a coverup by the White House of a call between President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President.

Volker has a long history in high level government work. He worked for Senator McCain in the 1990s and served in the CIA before that, and in the State Department and Foreign Service after the McCain stint. He was Ambassador to NATO under Bush and Obama. He currently serves as Executive Director of the McCain Institute.

There have been claims by Democratic House committees’ chairs that Volker was told by the White House “to intercede with President Zelensky” about investigations regarding Joe Biden and Paul Manafort.

Volker met with Zelensky the day after President Trump spoke by phone with the Ukrainian president, a call which later showed up in the whistleblower complaint.

After Volker’s meeting, the Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats resigned, and that led to concerns the new acting DNI would not forward the complaint. During a hearing this week, he explained the reasons for the delays.

On September 26, 2019, the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence released the unclassified text of the “whistleblower complaint” about the phone call between the President and his counterpart in Ukraine.

In the ‘whistleblower’s’ document on p. 3, Ambassador Volker and U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, were described as having “reportedly provided advice to the Ukrainian leadership about how to ‘navigate’ the demands that the President had made of Mr. Zelenskyy”.

On September 26, 2019, Rudy Giuliani tweeted that a screenshot of an alleged text message conversation to Giuliani from Volker, stating, “Mr. Mayor — really enjoyed breakfast this morning [July 19]. As discussed, connecting you here with Andrey Yermak, who is very close to President Zelensky. I suggest we schedule a call together on Monday — maybe 10 am or 11 am Washington time? Kurt”.

Why does this text and date render the hearsay so-called whistleblower useless and not credible? If you get even one reason I might recommend you for Law School. Two and it’s LawReview. Answers later. Watch Laura at 10 pm. pic.twitter.com/fN1kOtclaM

— Rudy Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) September 26, 2019

What It All Means

This text message shows Giuliani was slated to hold a phone conversation with Mr. Yermak on July 22nd, before the July 25th phone call. Critics say it appears to make things worse since it looks like it was part of a broader conspiracy. However, Volker was the one happily setting it up.

According to the whistleblower complaint, Volker sought to “contain the damage” from Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani’s outreach to Ukraine’s government about the Biden family.

But the July 19 text message from Volker to Giuliani that was provided to Fox News on Thursday showed that Volker had in fact encouraged Giuliani to reach out to Ukraine.

There are, however, questions as to why the State Department would deploy Giuliani to Ukraine. Democrats have subpoenaed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to testify in the matter. Mr. Voker has also been asked to testify.

This is what Rudy said Thursday:

Updates were made to the Volker resignation after publication.

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