Attorney Mark Zaid, who represents the first intelligence whistleblower to come forward with accusations concerning conversations between Donald Trump and Ukraine, said he is now representing a second whistleblower regarding Trump’s interactions.
According to CNN, Zaid confirmed he and other lawyers on his team are now representing the second person, who allegedly has first-hand knowledge that supports the first whistleblower’s claims. Zaid told the news outlet that the second whistleblower works in the intelligence community and has spoken to the intelligence community’s inspector general, but has not filed their own complaint.
Zaid told CNN it was unnecessary for the second person to file a complaint because anyone who speaks to inspector watchdog is considered to have made a protected disclosure and is considered a whistleblower under law.
Attorney Andrew Bakaj, also representing the whistleblowers, tweeted Sunday, “I can confirm that my firm and my team represent multiple whistleblowers in connection to the underlying August 12, 2019, disclosure to the Intelligence Community Inspector General. No further comment at this time.”
Reports of the second whistleblower come as House Democrats put together their impeachment inquiry focused on Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by issuing a subpoena to the White House and a documents request to Vice President Mike Pence.
The initial whistleblower’s complaint alleged Trump abused his official powers “to solicit interference” from Ukraine in the upcoming 2020 election, and that the White House took steps to cover it up. Transcripts released by the White House of the July 25 phone call revealed Trump asked Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.
Donald Trump has denied putting pressure on Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election and said his conversation with the Ukrainian President was “totally appropriate,” although he also said that he does feel that the Bidens should be investigated. Zelensky has also denied that Trump pressured him.
