NYT Editorial Board: Thanks, Whistle-Blower, Your Work Is Done

[teach1st]

Thanks, Whistle-Blower, Your Work Is Done
New York Times Editorial Board, 10/26/2019

“Where is the Whistleblower, and why did he or she write such a fictitious and incorrect account of my phone call with the Ukrainian President?” President Trump tweeted Thursday night. “Why did the IG allow this to happen? Who is the so-called Informant (Schiff?) who was so inaccurate? A giant Scam!”

The thing is, Mr. Trump, virtually every piece of information that the public first learned from the whistle-blower’s complaint has been corroborated by the White House’s reconstructed transcript of your call with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine or by the congressional testimony and documents provided by current and former administration officials. In the few remaining cases, save one, journalists have backed up his assertions through reporting.

Below, the whistle-blower’s assertions are highlighted and annotated.

More

[teach1st]

1. A part of the list of whistleblower assertions backed up by other sources

Sources are included in the Times editorial.

1. The President did solicit interference.
2. Giuliani and Barr were involved.
3. There was reason for alarm.
4. National security was put at risk.
...
8. White House officials knew the call was problematic.
9. Mr. Trump brought up only the Bidens and D.N.C.
10. Many officials heard the Ukraine call.
...
12. Officials were briefed about the call.
13. A transcript was put in a highly classified computer system.
14. They coordinated closely with the Ukrainians.
15. Giuliani told Ukrainians what needed to be done.
16. Giuliani reached out to senior Ukrainian officials.
17. Ukrainian officials did travel to Washington.
...
19. Giuliani “associates” reached out to Zelensky aides.
...
21. Trump officials worried about Giuliani’s behavior.
22. The president listened to Mr. Giuliani over other advisers.
...
24. A White House meeting depended on Ukrainian political aid.
...
29. Ukraine aid was frozen.
30. The aid freeze was ordered by the president.
31. Ukrainian officials knew of the freeze.