PELOSI STATEMENT on Whistleblower Complaint

[highplainsdem]

https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/92019-0

Pelosi Statement on Whistleblower Complaint
September 20, 2019
Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after reports of a whistleblower complaint filed by a member of the Intelligence Community, which is being withheld from Congress in violation of federal law:

“Reports of a reliable whistleblower complaint regarding the President’s communications with a foreign leader raise grave, urgent concerns for our national security. We must be sure that the President and his Administration are conducting our national security and foreign policy in the best interest of the American people, not the President’s personal interest.

“The Director of National Intelligence Inspector General, who was appointed by President Trump, has said that the complaint is both of ‘urgent concern and credible,’ and its disclosure ‘relates to one of the most significant and important of the Director of National Intelligence’s responsibilities to the American people.’

“The Administration’s blocking of Acting DNI Joseph Maguire from providing Congress with the whistleblower complaint violates the federal statute, which unequivocally states that the DNI ‘shall’ provide Congress this information. If the President has done what has been alleged, then he is stepping into a dangerous minefield with serious repercussions for his Administration and our democracy. The President and Acting DNI’s stonewalling must end immediately, and the whistleblower must be provided with every protection guaranteed by the law to defend the integrity of our government and ensure accountability and trust.

"Chairman Adam Schiff and the Intelligence Committee are to be commended for their strong leadership to ensure Congress is provided all the information so that we can fulfill our responsibility to protect the American people and our national security. We will continue to follow the facts and explore every possible option to ensure the American people get the truth. We would hope that Republicans would join us in supporting the Constitution.”

[vsrazdem]

1. Then get a friggin writ of mandamus and get the information. Quit pussy footing around.

[Funtatlaguy]

9. She should say: "Our criminal President must be removed ".

[sprinkleeninow]

10. There are DUers on here who should be in the federal government and/or

seeking an office in our administration. Their intellect/smarts. Too right! 👍

[LiberalLovinLug]

23. "We would hope that Republicans would join us in supporting the Constitution"

Yeah, lets wait for that.

[SunSeeker]

36. Right? How many times are we going to be Charlie Brown to their Lucy pulling away the football?

[DemocracyMouse]

69. Yes, yes, yes to all comments above about Pelosi's guarded rhetoric.

She should have concluded with this:

"If the Republicans choose not to follow their Constitutional obligations and support us in the pursuit of truth and in the lawful exercise of our right to subpoena, they have become false patriots and are clearly serving other forces. The groundswell of Republicans now abandoning their party or choosing not to run is evidence that at least some in their ranks are aware that the moral bottom has fallen out from the Republican party. I expect that every remaining patriot in the Republican Party will insist that the Trump administration cease to obstruct our pursuit of those documents. Those who do nothing are as if dead to Democracy and the US Constitution and should be removed by the people of the United States in the very next election they can bless with their votes."

[Catch2.2]

89. Yes!!!

This is part of my frustration with the Dem party. They treat Republicans like they are not complicit. The Dems need to be calling out the Republicans, not saying I hope they join us!

[LiberalLovinLug]

91. Perfect! Send this to Nancy immediately

Of course you have to add:
"and God bless the United States of America"

They are so frightened of just saying the truth about Donnie Dotard. And of the Republicans themselves. Of showing their emotion on it. Perhaps they are not really that concerned. I don't get it, and I'm sure historians in the future, if we have one, will be puzzled about Democrats fickleness when it has been clearly way past the threshold of "high crimes and misdemeanours" for a long time now.

[tclambert]

92. But, but, they wear flag pins! Doesn't that prove they are patriots?

Look at all those patriotic lapels!


(I tried to find an image of Moscow Mitch wearing a flag pin so I could say, "See? Even Moscow Mitch wears one!" But I couldn't find any such photos. What does this mean?)

[Catch2.2]

87. Exactly!!!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

40. You'll love this...

WaPo
By Ben Terris
September 20, 2019
Greetings from Mike Pence’s parallel universe.

The vice president is onstage at the Heritage Foundation wearing a permanent squint like he’s auditioning for a Ronald Reagan biopic, as serene as a married man eating a business lunch without a woman in sight.

“On this Constitution Day,” he says, “I’m proud to report that we’ve also been standing strong for the Constitution itself, with the principles of limited government, for the values enshrined in our founding documents.”

In this dimension, the audience knows exactly what Constitution Day is. They celebrate it for an entire week, and without feeling like the country is ricocheting between crises: no impeachment hearings, “urgent” whistleblower complaints about promises made to foreign leaders, or ethical concerns about the military spending big bucks at Trump properties.

More...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/greetings-from-mike-pences-parallel-universe-its-constitution-day-at-the-heritage-foundation/2019/09/19/64bec090-daf7-11e9-ac63-3016711543fe_story.html

[SergeStorms]

75. They have no shame.

No shame, and no mental guidance system to see that they're shredding the Constitution each and every day they're in office.

[Duppers]

59. Exactly! Remember the old joke...

That begins with "your barn burned" - ends with "let's watch that shit"?

Well, Pelosi's statements are the equivalent of "Let's watch that shit!"

[Maraya1969]

99. Join us in doing nothing?

"alleged, then he is stepping into a dangerous minefield with serious repercussions for his Administration and our democracy. The President and Acting DNI’s stonewalling must end immediately, and the whistleblower must be provided with every protection guaranteed by the law to defend the integrity of our government and ensure accountability and trust."

This is the new,.... THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

It means nothing because we all know you will do nothing.

[LiberalLovinLug]

102. "the new THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS"

Excellent summation.

"must end immediately"....."must be provided with.."

Yes they MUST. And if you can do ANYTHING more using all the powers you have to achieve this, they YOU MUST as well.

[EveHammond13]

47. amen

[pnwmom]

60. She's waiting for next Thursday when Maguire either appears or doesn't appear. n/t

[BeyondGeography]

2. Rob Reiner seems to want a little bit more

Link to tweet

[stopdiggin]

14. enough with the threats

"many loyal Democrats will abandon the party."

Not if they're in any degree loyal! Oh, right .. a huge turnout for Jill Stein, because THAT worked out so well. Stop with the BS!

[BeyondGeography]

16. He's out of his mind on this one

But he’s a fighter and people are tired of being told to keep their powder dry.

[stopdiggin]

25. impeachment took a big step forward

I believe there are centrists out there that DO worry about security, and DO pay heed to the intelligence community (and other pockets of perceived integrity). We're picking up people steadily. But I REALLY get tired of threats that the Democratic base is going to go elsewhere. REALLY? Haven't had enough WINNING yet?

[FoxNewsSucks]

37. I understand your point,

but I REALLY get tired of my D vote being taken for granted by establishment DNC types, and of some Democratic office holders not taking action that is at least as bold and direct as that taken by the republicon scum.

FFS, the Democrats are on the CORRECT side. They should act like it. Boldly and directly confront criminal republicons. Bring them to account in a meaningful way. At all times.

It's now time to get out all that dry powder saved up over the years and start using it.

[Bettie]

65. +1,000

Seriously, we have the truth on our side. We have the law on our side and yet, our side still can't manage more than a metaphorical finger wag.

[Saint PeLSU]

48. Enthusiasm has to 'Trump' hate...

A lot of people flocked to the polls to impeach Frump in 2018 giving the democrats the house. Don't be shocked at how many people sit home because of inaction. If white women, immigrants, muslims are still backing republicans, and #ADOS has too many black people crying about reparations or no vote we will be in for a rude awakening.

[KPN]

73. How many years of consistent voting Dem

does it take to achieve loyal in your book? Or does loyal only extend to 2020? And what about those who would vote D in 2020 because of tRump but not necessarily thereafter because of disappointment with results?

[stopdiggin]

95. So you recommending third party candidates? (nt)

[KPN]

98. No. I asked you some practical and straight-forward

questions in order to get a fuller perspective, and also to make a practical point. Don’t put words in my mouth.

[stopdiggin]

103. I found your post a confusing response

to mine. wasn't an attempt to put words in anyone's mouth. let's go back ..

"many loyal Democrats will abandon the party."

and my response to this is, "And go WHERE?"
(and there might have been something additional about me finding that total BS)
if you're finding fault with this (which I assume is the purpose of your post), then I'll have to ask again,
"Are you advocating voting third party?" Because that is my take-away here.

[KPN]

104. Lol. Give me a break. Here's what you personally said ... your words not anyone else's:

Not if they're in any degree loyal! Oh, right .. a huge turnout for Jill Stein, because THAT worked out so well. Stop with the BS!

How about answering my questions?

[stopdiggin]

105. OK

my answer is -- I would not define anybody that would even CONSIDER voting for anyone other than a Democrat (particular after what 2016 taught) -- in 2020, and probably at least the next few cycles -- as anything resembling a loyal Democrat. Hope that answers the question.

[YOHABLO]

94. Loyal Dems will vote for whoever is our candidate. But we need Independents as well

as x Republicans who see Trump as a national security risk.

[brutus smith]

28. He's absolutely correct

And the ones calling for loyalty no matter what sound like trump.

[SunSeeker]

38. Yup. I'm fucking sick and tired of the "No we can't" chorus.

What happened to YES WE CAN?

Why are we so afraid to take bold action?

[Hortensis]

46. "Many loyal Democrats will abandon the party." Oxymoronic surely?

That's not going to happen.

This is the summer of our discontent, those chronically prone to discontent especially.

I'm never allowed to forget that too many of the kind who would abandon their duty were "discontented" in 2016 and didn't vote, or skipped voting for president.

They're reaping the RW corruption they sowed, and too many lack all shame and are blaming everyone but themselves. I live in the south, and their hypocritical whining makes our trumpster neighbors' deluded smugness look strong and even peculiarly honest in comparison.

[Botany]

55. You tell 'em Meathead!

This is crap that the mob does.

[ArcticFox]

68. More like

The Democratic Party will have left many loyal Democrats

[KPN]

71. He is right. Also, many potential loyal Democrats

among the millennials.

[awesomerwb1]

3. Your mild concern is duly noted.

[Cartoonist]

4. Blah, blah, blah

Talk about normalized.

Trump breaks law - now normal
Congress does nothing - now normal

[lindysalsagal]

97. I'm in my 60's. Words don't work for me, anymore.

On any level.

[Maven]

5. Whatever. nt

[spanone]

6. He SHALL present his taxes too....they give the finger to any laws they wish

If there was only an avenue to go after mr trump.....

[RainCaster]

7. The GOP says that the whistleblower may be personally liable

I think that all those who obstruct this action by the DNI need to be held personally liable when this is upheld. Possible actions should include:
* Disbarment of the individual, and the firm, if not a government employee
* Heavy fines, 6-8 figures
* Incarceration for many years

I am so tired of all of DFT's minions trampling over everything we hold as sacred in this country. We need to hold them responsible on a personal level for their actions. If we don't this nonsense will only ratchet up further.

[Wellstone ruled]

8. Until Contempt

Orders are fully executed,nothing changes.

[coti]

11. Fuck impeachment, she should be calling for his resignation nt

[leftstreet]

12. +1

1000x

[DrToast]

56. Completely agree.

[Zoonart]

77. THIS!!!!

[Catch2.2]

88. Yes!!!

[smirkymonkey]

93. Hear, hear!

I am beyond sick of this namby-pamby bullshit. Fucking fight them for god's sake!!

[ooky]

13. ..."If the President has done what has been alleged"...

Which is highly believable for this President.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

15. ITTMFA

[malaise]

21. Hopefully as they get to the bottom of this last straw

We will have a vote

[Delphinus]

39. Had to look that one up

I kept running words through my head ...

I think it means "Impeach the MF already". If not, please let us know.

[lastlib]

63. "Impeach The Treasonous Mo-Fo Already"

(I had to look up the "A" myself....)

[Delphinus]

80. Aha!

Thank you - that makes a lot more sense!

[progressoid]

17. And if you don't play nice, we'll send ANOTHER sternly written letter!

[Maven]

19. In the meantime, we'll be over there passing legislation that will go nowhere!

La la la, everything is normal!

[BlueWI]

96. No kidding.

Other than the investigative committees, might as well close up shop and go campaign. You can out out press releases from your districts.

[BSdetect]

18. If he was about to shot someone on 6th Avenue it could this could not be any less serious.

[triron]

32. This is orders of magnitude beyond mere murder.

[BamaRefugee]

20. Searching and searching for any ACTION VERBS, not finding them..just another STERNLY WORDED LETTER

[Duppers]

62. Yeah, it's a "Let's watch that shit"

Kind of statement.

[nancy1942]

22. Yada, yada, yada.

Another day. Another outrage. God, I am so sick of this crap.
When will enough be enough?
EVER?

[Hortensis]

31. :) There's a fix for high anxiety, Nancy. Take a break.

Or at least chill. Political forum involvement is not a useful contribution, so why tear ourselves up over it. And I presume none of us are political anthropologists or historians because they're all riveted on what's happening and way too informed and busy to hang here.

Speaking of busy, the other Nancy didn't write that required statement of course. She probably didn't even approve the final version. A senior aide would have.

[Brawndo]

33. But some of us are lawyers who police DU and get off on quashing any hope for justice

(this isn't specifically directed at you though)

[Hortensis]

42. Hope? Don't you think hope is better found somewhere

else, certainly not in places and threads where people gather to wallow in helpless anger and anxiety?

I don't know if you remember the "acting out '80s," but for a while there was a fad for getting all your angers out instead of hiding them inside. Supposed to be mentally healthier. What was discovered instead, aside from the limits of what others would put up with , was that acting out angers and anxieties increased them. Exercising them develops and strengthens them, like muscles.

This is not a healthy exercise.

[Brawndo]

51. I don't see it as wallowing in helpless anger

This is a community that is mostly supportive. Some, like myself, may live in very red areas of the country and take comfort that we aren't alone in our outrage, even if our immediate neighbors are part of the problem. There is an uplifting effect in knowing that there are many other fighters who will not accept these injustices. It shows that we are not cowed by the daily onslaught and that we will ultimately save our democracy.

[Hortensis]

52. "fighters who will not accept these injustices..." Yes! Much better.

[Arazi]

24. Terrifying! I'm sure the #GOPTraitors are quaking in their boots!

[LonePirate]

26. We need more action and less talk.

[ffr]

27. SCORCHED EARTH! Burn the Kremlin's house down!

[CrispyQ]

29. Here's her contact form:

https://www.speaker.gov/contact

[Mike Nelson]

30. She sounds poised...

... if the facts match the speculation on this, she sounds like she's on board for impeachment. It also fits in with her timing, I think... high gear investigations until Election Day 2020!

[triron]

34. What words Pelosi uttered "sounds like she's onboard for impeachment"?

[Mike Nelson]

61. I would say...

... all of them. It was a strong statement. But, to pick a few words... "dangerous... minefield... serious... repercussions."

[triron]

70. I've heard these before.

[Act_of_Reparation]

35. Oh boy. A scolding.

Problem. Solved.

[NCjack]

41. Close to the score becoming DEMs 2 v. GOP 0. So, ReThugs will not help us DEMs.

We need to be ready with charges for criminal-#45.

[Javaman]

43. well, gee thanks. I'll back to washing my dog now.

get back to me when you actually do something.

[Doremus]

44. Now follow the strongly-worded letter with strong action, Madame Speaker.

They scoff at our weakness.

[in2herbs]

45. Per Pelosi " . . . so that we can fulfill our responsibility to protect the American people and our

national security. We will continue to follow the facts and explore every possible option to ensure the American people get the truth. We would hope that Republicans would join us in supporting the Constitution.”

"every possible option" "supporting the Constitution" does this mean that she is now leaning towards impeachment?

[Snackshack]

49. Another strongly worded statement...

[orangecrush]

50. DO SOMETHING

NOW

[CaptainTruth]

53. Note the last sentence, "supporting the Constitution." Carefully chosen words.

All the actions referenced in the statement are statute, not part of the Constitution. In this scenario the only action that supports the Constitution is impeachment followed by conviction in the Senate (hint hint Republicans).

[berksdem]

54. this will go nowhere just like everything else...

Strong words are not going to take this president down. Do something now!

[skydive forever]

57. I'm sure that a strongly worded letter

will help get to the bottom of this. s/ I can't imagine ever becoming a republican, but this lack of concrete reaction to overwhelming criminality has to stop. Never thought that I'd say this, but I'm really starting to lose hope in the democratic party.

[Baked Potato]

58. She's almost there,

Glad she’s keeping it totally nonpartisan.

[OliverQ]

64. The evidence proves Trump committed high crimes.

Pelosi needs to call for impeachment and demand Trump's resignation.

[grumpyduck]

66. Talk, talk, talk.

Yadda, yadda, yadda.

[ancianita]

67. Lawyers helping Trump are rewriting the executive branch's power as a new constitution of oligarchy.

That means the DOJ is complicit in using its powers to subvert the existing Constitution.

It might be about Republicans, sure, but this is really about preserving democracy.

[world wide wally]

72. FUCKING DO SOMETHING!

[cstanleytech]

85. It could be something as simple as timing and waiting until after the Repugnants have officially

committed to supporting Trumps bid for a 2nd term.
Once they cross that threshold an attempt to impeach him with hard evidence of wrong doing puts them in a even tougher spot to defend both him and themselves.

[Vinca]

74. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Our side is looking really fucking weak.

What will happen? Probably another hearing where people won't show up despite being given a subpoena and nothing will happen. This is so frustrating.

[Thomas Hurt]

76. Still can't bring herself to use the word impeachment.

[Duncan Grant]

78. Republicans, right-wingers, and Trump(s): "Oh yeah, what are you going to do about it"?

Show of hands: Who knew this was coming on the night of November 6, 2016?

How is it possible -- nearly three years later -- that one corrupt imbecile continues to take a wrecking ball to this democracy daily -- without penalty?

What the proverbial fuck is going on? I'd really like to know.

[lunasun]

79. ......We would hope that Republicans would join us.......

[Progressive Jones]

81. Why can't this "whistleblower" contact the House directly? NT

[ecstatic]

82. On Rachel last night, Schiff admitted that if the whistleblower did so, he couldn't guarantee

that he or she would be protected from retaliation/prosecution/firing/etc. Our side is so adamant about sticking to the law while the other side has made up their own rules. It's crazy and unsustainable!

[ancianita]

84. Because she's not legally a "whistleblower" yet. Just a "leaker."

Last edited Mon Sep 23, 2019, 09:20 PM - Edit history (1)

The DOJ (contacted by the "acting" DNI for instructions) is poised to attack this whistleblower, who doesn't yet have the full protections of the 2012 Whistleblower Protections Enhancement Act, because she hasn't done what would give her bona fide whistleblower status AND those protections -- actually turn over the intel to Congress.

This is similar to how DHS prevents legal asylum status to asylum seekers by not letting asylum seekers actually enter the country. Already having done the deed gives you the protected legal status.

So, in my view, (I'm not a lawyer but have been reading up on a couple of books on whistleblowing) she's not just hiring a lawyer to protect her as a leaker, but retaining him (a CIA whistleblower lawyer) to help her get whistleblower status by authorizing him to represent her in delivering the intel directly to Congress. This legally protects Congress' legal authority to bring charges against the prez.

[Progressive Jones]

107. Thanks for the info. You mentioned "she". Is that a known fact? nt

[ancianita]

108. No. But if the Dan Coats story is true, the whistleblower is a she. She was his deputy in the WH.

He's rumored to be the protector of this whistleblower who heard the Ukraine calls the president made.

[Cha]

83. KR!

[Pepsidog]

86. NOT ENOUGH!

[Catch2.2]

90. This is part of my frustration

They treat Republicans like they are not complicit. The Dems need to be calling out the Republicans, not saying I hope they join us!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

100. Maybe the real question we should be asking

is What the fuck does Representative Pelose gain by not supporting impeachment?

I am heartily sick of her defenders here.

The real problem with not moving forward with impeachment or at least looking seriously into it, is that by next year all the Republicans will say that of course Trump did nothing wrong, and neither did they. And that will make it a whole lot harder to make a case for putting Trump and other Republicans out of office.

Yeah, a sternly worded letter is going to make everything right again.

Not.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

101. Time to act Speaker Pelosi!! Beyond time. How do you continue to ignore this cancer?

[Joe941]

106. Don't just stand there, do something!